Thinking about selling your home this spring? Then what are you waiting for? You have work to do! Spring is typically the prime house selling season. The weather is good and it’s easier for people to move when the kids are out of school. But COVID has proved the housing market is anything but typical.
Sure, we expect sales to be brisk during the Spring as always but we also know that inventory is low so the closer you can be to the front end of that buying season, the better. Don’t wait to start getting your house ready.
Here’s the biggest thing, everyone underestimates when it comes to putting your house on the market. Putting your home on the market takes time and effort if you want to do it right. By right, we mean get your house in shape for a quick sale, and price it appropriately. Rushing it to market before it’s ready doesn’t help you sell it faster. In fact, it can be the opposite.
It’s never too soon to start planning, even if you aren’t 100 percent sure you plan to sell it.
There are things you CAN and SHOULD be doing right now to put you in the best position for selling when you are ready to pull the trigger.
First, you’ll need an agent. Experienced real estate agents make ALL the difference. They can share market insight. They know the best ways to market a home. And, they’ll help you navigate all the processes and paperwork that can be a little confusing. We recommend interviewing several real estate agents. Chemistry counts here, among other things. We made a list of what you can do to find the right fit.
Talk it over. Talk about wants and needs with your spouse or partner or family. Consider the budget and if it’s reasonable.
Check out some open houses. Going to a few open houses serves two purposes. It can help you scope out the competition in your area and give you a good idea as to what buyers are seeing in various price ranges.
An open house can also help you fine tune what you are looking for in your next home.
Who knows, your dream house might be available right now and that could change your timeline. Just don’t let your emotions lead ‘the research.’ Here’s what you should really be looking for at an open house .
Take an honest assessment of where you live. Love is blind, as they say and we see it in homeowners all the time. You see the memories but a new buyer won’t. Look for small improvements you can start making and possible places to increase value. Here are a few suggestions with good returns on your investment.
Start decluttering. This is a huge part of selling a home and takes the most time usually. Time to organize that paperwork, clean out the garage, sell all those clothes in the top shelf of your closet you haven’t worn in a year and donate those 5 crates of baby clothes in your attic. Donate, sell, pack, or toss. Here a few ideas. It’s your choice but start the process!
Don’t worry you don’t have to make a decision today… but regardless of your final answer, none of this will wasted time or ‘all for nothing.’ At the very least, you improve your current living space for you and your family to enjoy and should you need it, you will be better positioned to make your big move when the time is right.