Using Market and Property Facts Responsibly

Several tactics call for real market or property information as an input. When you supply it, following a few standards keeps the finished result accurate and defensible.

• Use verified sources: MLS data, your brokerage’s own reporting, or another source you trust.
• Include the source date, so anyone reading it knows how current the information is.
• Be specific about geography: the exact area the data actually covers.
• Note the comparison period: what timeframe you’re comparing against.
• Keep facts and interpretation clearly separate. A number is a fact; what it means for a particular buyer or seller is your interpretation.
• Don’t include unsupported forecasts: predictions you can’t back with real data.
• Never let invented valuation, equity, proceeds, or timing figures appear in a finished asset. If you don’t have the real number, leave it out.

For questions that go beyond market facts (financing, legal, tax, valuation, or inspection specifics), see When to Refer a Question to Another Professional.