The Shopper Real Estate: Spring Selling Season is here!
By Jess Barron, Lindsey’s Inc. Realtors
Spring time is the best time to sell your home. More homes are sold from the spring time to the fall than any other time of the year (per GAMLS).
Real estate correlates with both the weather and school year. Buyers prefer to look at homes when the weather is nice. When considering the average market time to sell, a 30-60 day closing process, it is best to list in the spring to accomplish a late spring or summer move.
The first day of spring, officially, begins on March 20. As Realtors, we see activity pick up the last few weeks in preparation for the spring selling season. Home owners begin to prepare their homes for this busy time and contact real estate agents for assistance in pricing and marketing. The next part of this article will provide some helpful tips, from Realtor.com, for selling your home.
Tip No. 1 – Get realistic about how much your home is worth
It is natural to think your home is priceless or hope it is worth at least more than when you bought it. Many sellers make the mistake of placing a pie-in-the-sky price on their home with the hopes that some buyer will bite. But the reality is, overpriced homes tend to sit and sit on the market. Potential buyers begin to think that something is “wrong” with a house when it sits on the market and become apprehensive to pursue the property. You want to be able to make a great first impression when the home hits the market. A correct price can often result in multiple offers and a contract price well-above list price.
Tip No. 2 – Keep clutter from creeping in
Clutter can make a spacious home feel claustrophobic. It is crucial that you toss, donate, gift, or recycle anything you do not love or use. This is also true for those hidden areas like your closets and cabinets. Buyers will poke their heads in these areas. You must also be able to de-personalize your property. Buyers will need to envision themselves in your home. Family pictures, souvenirs, trophies, etc., along with clutter, prevent the buyers from doing so.
Tip No. 3 – Keep home show-ready 24/7
It can be difficult to keep your home picture-perfect for buyers all the time, but it is well worth the pain and suffering. Having your property listed on the market will require you to live a certain way while your home is listed. This means keeping your home clean and presentable at all times. This includes smells and pets. Landscaping and keeping a yard “fresh” is to not be overlooked. You do not know when that perfect buyer will be calling to see your home!
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Jess Barron is an Associate Broker with Lindseys, Inc. Realtors and President of the Newnan-Coweta Board of Realtors.
