If you’re thinking about listing your home for sale — or if you already know you will — why not do so early, as possible? By getting in on the real estate market at the beginning of the year, you could benefit in some unexpected ways.
1. There’s low inventory – when inventory is low, it’s usually a great time to put your house on the market. Your new listing could cause buyers to pounce when there’s little competition, especially if your home is in a desirable neighborhood.
2. Spring starts early in warm markets – if your home is in a warm climate, you could really benefit by listing your home for sale in early spring. While homebuyers may not be personally visiting houses as quickly, they will be looking online. Listing a home earlier helps a home stand out in the market
3. Get realistic about how much your home is worth – It’s natural to think your home is priceless, or hope it’s worth at least more than when you bought it. As such, many sellers make the epic mistake of placing a pie-in-the-sky price on their home with the hopes that some buyer somewhere will bite. But the reality is, overpriced homes tend to languish on the market.
4. Keep your personal items and styles to a minimum – Those things that make a house your home—family pictures, your kid’s artwork, souvenirs from the family trip? Stick ’em in a drawer or safely stored box. Your home won’t feel so homey, but this step is essential to getting someone else to see themselves in the space.
5. Keep clutter from creeping in – No one wants to buy your clutter, or try to determine what the house looks like without it. So it’s crucial that you toss, donate, gift, or recycle anything you don’t love or use.
6. Banish bad smells – even beautiful, well-priced homes won’t sell if they smell rank. It can be as subtle as the presence of pets, bathroom mildew, or last night’s broiled carp. Scented candles and sprays can mask smells, but it’s best to root out the source.
7. There’s early movement for lower price points – the lower-price-point markets move a little earlier. If you’re a first-time homebuyer and are currently saving in preparation to buy, you might have earmarked that tax refund coming to you for the purpose.
For more information on buying and selling architectural homes, lots and condos visit Darrell Done at www.darrelldone.com.
