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Psssst! Summer is Still a Great Time to Sell Your Home
Psssst! Summer is Still a Great Time to Sell Your Home
Traditionally, the summer months aren’t the absolute best for selling a home. While those with an urgent need to move appreciate the flexibility of being between school years or even jobs, most people are more focused on vacations. Add the stifling heat in most areas to the equation and it might seem like you’ve got a recipe for disaster; or at least no results. Truth? It’s definitely feasible to sell your home in the summer.
Why This Summer Matters
Check this out. Did you notice how bad the winter months were this year? It was worse the previous winter, but different regions – especially the northeast – were pounded by storm after storm. This means the normal winter buying season was slowed as people were nervous about going out to look at homes between bouts of snow and ice. What does that mean to you? There are lots of potential buyers out there who are behind their self-imposed schedules, still looking for the right house.
The Drawbacks of the Summer
Selling your house during the summer means knowing and understanding the challenges. We already mentioned vacations. We mentioned school being out but that’s both a challenge and a help. People who are ready to move want to do so in the summer, but may have settled on their homes earlier. People buying in the summer, with children, have childcare and attention issues to deal with, making it harder to find a home while towing children around. Make your home a warm and inviting atmosphere for families, even altering the way it’s staged a bit to appeal to a family.
Flexibility is Key
During the fall and winter, even spring, people like to look at homes while there is natural light outside. That means for the majority of the year showings take place during the day or very early evening hours. But in the summer the sun lingers longer, meaning people may want to see your home later – maybe even after dinner. While this may be disruptive to your regular schedule, you’ll need to be flexible to allow for more interest.
Don’t let the naysayers fool you. According to the Huffington Post, in 2014 more than 60% of homes were bought and sold between May and August. That’s a rather large number for a season that gets a bad wrap in the real estate market. Talk to your real estate agent for help if you aren’t sure when to list your home. You may be surprised at the results you get.
Summer Home Sale Tips: How to Take Advantage of the Season
Summer Home Sale Tips: How to Take Advantage of the Season
The summer months are great for home sales. Lawns are lush and green, with flowers in full bloom, and homes look light and airy. Families with children love to move during the summer months, as the break between school years often makes for an easier transition. Add the fact that there is no ice or snow to deal with and you’ve got the formula for a great home-selling season. So what can you do to take advantage of it?
Focus on the Outdoors
It is harder for people to visualize themselves using outdoor space during the winter months, but the summer months provide a great opportunity to showcase your patio areas, grilling areas, swimming pools, deck areas, or any outdoor living space. Even if you don’t have a formal patio, you should still consider setting up some outdoor furniture so visitors can see how the space might be used.
Showcase that Pool
Make sure your swimming pool, if you have one, is clean and well-maintained. Check it daily for debris, make sure the pumps are running properly, and make sure your gates and protective mechanisms are also in good repair. In the hot weather, your potential buyers will appreciate the concept of a nice, refreshing swim.
Run Your Air Conditioning
Yes, you are moving. Yes, you are trying to save some money. Find a comfortable, cool temperature so that potential buyers visiting your home will feel refreshed when they step inside from the heat. You don’t have to turn the house into an ice box, but make sure you aren’t cutting corners on comfort.
Declutter the Yard
You’ve decluttered the inside of your house, now make sure the yard looks nice as well. Children’s toys should be organized, not scattered around the yard. The garage should look organized and well-kept. Gardens should be weeded and the lawn should be mowed. Oh, and if you have a dog? Please do a daily sweep to make sure the yard is clean.
Lighten Things Up
Make sure you take down any heavy drapes that will block natural sunlight. Add some fresh-cut flowers throughout the house, or even some potted flowers outside, to add lots of color. Don’t go overboard. Just make sure the home looks bright, spacious, and inviting.
The summer months are really great for home sales, with realtor.com estimating that 50% of all home sales are made during this season. Talk to your realtor about how to step things up a notch and you, too, might be moving before it gets cold again.
How to Stay Organized While Packing for a Move
How to Stay Organized While Packing for a Move
Moving day is approaching rapidly and you’re dragging your feet. Why? Because packing (and unpacking) are quite possibly the two worst parts of the move. Making sure everything you have gets to the right place can be quite the feat, but we have some tips that may help.
Make Lists
Don’t roll your eyes. Lists are important to a successful move. Start by making a list of each room in your new home and assigning it a letter or a number – “D for dining room” or “K for Kayla’s room.” Make sure each box you pack is clearly labeled with the letter of the room it should be put in upon arrival at your new home. Just make sure you give each room its own unique letter. Use a sharpie to write on the box, and when you get to the new home, write the letters on Masking tape and put them on the room doors so that those helping you move don’t have to guess which room is which.
If you need specific items to be found sooner rather than later, give those boxes an additional label or symbol – a star for the box that has your bathroom towels and toiletries; or for the box that has your most-used eating utensils. You’re going to want to be able to find those boxes first.
Plan in Advance
Don’t let your move sneak up on you. No matter what, you likely have an idea of when you’d like to move. Your circumstance will determine how much notice you have. About two months before a move you should be obtaining and organizing your child’s school records, start researching new school systems and amenities near your new house, and creating your to-do lists. About six weeks out you should be able to order packing supplies (or start looking for free ones), take measurements in your new house, and start tossing things you aren’t taking with you.
A month before your move you can start packing and looking to hire a moving company, if you’re using one. If you’re not, you’ll still need to make a reservation for a truck and start soliciting friends and family for help. Make sure your car has had a proper tune-up and make sure you have the time off of work you need.
Make sure every member of your household has an overnight bag packed with a change of clothes, toiletries, medications, and daily essentials. This way you won’t have to search for clothes and needed items the second you get to your new house.
Moving takes a lot of work, but with some careful planning you can make it a less stressful experience. Ask your real estate agent if you need referrals to moving companies and local services. They can often help you get settled in your new neighborhood.
How to Stage Your Home for a Summer Sale
How to Stage Your Home for a Summer Sale
You’ve already read a lot about staging your home, we’re sure. The good news is we’re going to bypass the basics about cleaning, decluttering, and making basic repairs. Instead we’re going to focus a bit on some of the things you can do to showcase your home’s summer features.
Curb Appeal is Key
Curb appeal is key during the summer months. Show off your home’s potential by highlighting all of the lovely outdoor accents you can. Buy a fresh, new welcome mat to put outside your front door and keep the lawn mowed. Look at the little things around your home. Do the windows need to be washed (inside and out)? Can you add a few potted plants on the steps or in window boxes? Add a layer of fresh mulch to your garden beds. Mulch makes garden areas look finished and helps keep the weeds away.
Accentuate Outdoor Living Space
Do you have a porch, deck, or patio? A clean, decluttered outdoor living area will actually make your property appear larger; as opposed to clutter, which will shrink the visual perception of space. Make sure your outdoor furniture is clean and replace or recover the cushions if you need to. Hose off the deck or patio regularly to keep it free of outdoor debris. Check your porch lights to make sure they’re in good working order and consider accentuating your gardens or outdoor living spaces with rechargeable LED lights for an added glow.
Prepare the Pool
Does your home have a pool? You may have hesitated to open it this season while planning for a move, but you really should open it up, clean it, and make it a centerpiece. Have your chemicals maintained, clear debris daily, and make sure all of the motors and safety mechanisms are in good working order. Don’t let the pool get over-crowded with floats and toys. Create an area in which your prospective buyers can imagine themselves relaxing with family and friends.
Interior Decisions
While the warm home color themes you had during the winter months may have been inviting, they’ll make the home feel closed off in the summer months. You may want to consider repainting walls to lighter, more neutral colors and then accenting each room with summery pillows and art pieces. Painting is work, but combined with open, airy windows and natural light, this change can make a huge difference when it comes to selling your home.
There’s nothing particularly pleasant about the summer heat, but many people embrace the summer months over the winter blues. It’s important to show your prospective buyers how functional your home and outdoor living areas can be. Ask your real estate agent if you need help!
Moving? Take this Opportunity to Declutter
Moving? Take this Opportunity to Declutter
Decluttering. You hear this term over and over again when it comes to selling your house and preparing for a move. It’s a nightmare – getting rid of all of the things you don’t want people to see or that you don’t want to take with you. But it’s oh so worth it in the end – a clean start in your new home.
Start Right Away
It doesn’t matter if your move is going to be in 6 weeks or 6 months, start the process of decluttering as soon as you know you’re going to move. Don’t put it off. Don’t tell yourself it will be easier to pack and declutter when you unpack. It’s not easier, and you’ll save money on packing supplies if you have less stuff to take with you.
One Space at a Time
Don’t overwhelm yourself. Take things one closet or drawer at a time – definitely not an entire room at a time. You’ll have more time to focus on what you really use and want to keep and you won’t have to worry as much about making a snap decision you’ll regret later on.
Shred Old Documents
Don’t carry around old documents you no longer need. Put the old, outdated documents that are decades old and no longer necessary for record keeping purposes in their own box. You can either shred them yourself or take them to a secure drop-off point at a local office supply store for shredding.
Prepare Yourself
What will your options for each item be? Create a box for packing, a box or bag for donations, and a box of bag for the trash. Those should be your only options. If you’re really not sure, create one extra box for items you aren’t sure about. Otherwise, pack it, donate it, or trash it.
It’s OK to Let Go
Don’t keep things that have no place in your life simply because they used to have some sort of sentimental value. If they’ve been tucked in a closet or drawer, out of sight, they aren’t doing you much good either way. Sometimes it is better to get a fresh start – away from the memories of old jobs or past friendships and relationships.
The same goes for your collection of gadgets, whatever they may be – household cleaning items, kitchen gadgets, and things that just take up space but were cool in a time and a place. If you don’t use it with some sort of regularity, even yearly, get rid of it.
If you’re selling your home, your real estate agent is going to tell you to declutter anyway. You may as well get a head start on the process. You may or may not decide to get rid of even more stuff when you are unpacking, but getting rid of the clutter before you go will save you a lot of extra work in the long run.
Increasing Google Visibility to Gain More Leads
Increasing Google Visibility to Gain More Leads
As a real estate professional, you no doubt realize how competitive the marketplace really is. Everyone wants to make sure their homes are seen. The popularity of the web has made it easier than ever before for you to attract the attention of the web-savvy world, but you still need to make sure your website is as high in the Google search results as possible in order to achieve success. So what can you do to make sure people are actually seeing your website?
Proper Website Optimization
If the thought of “proper website optimization” made you wish you had another cup of coffee, you might want to consider hiring help. In short, you want to make sure that your website is set up in a way that is easy for the search engines to find, identify, and understand. If Google can figure out your site is about real estate, you’re more likely to come up in real estate searches. Most websites use meta tags to show the web crawlers what your pages are about and each page should have one.
You’ll also need to make sure your website is using the right keywords, which means keyword research. Have another headache? Your web designer or SEO expert can help you with that, too. Keyword research isn’t just about knowing what terms are relevant to real estate, but what terms people who are looking to buy or sell houses are actually using when they search the web. Using those terms on your site – especially in the aforementioned meta tags – can help increase your visibility.
Visual Tools
When it comes to real estate, prospective buyers need visuals. You’re going to want to have lots of images, usually in the form of a gallery, for your site – whether they stand alone or link back to your favorite listing sites. You should also have video – tips about buying and/or selling, walk-throughs of homes, etc.
You will want to talk to your web designer about how to make sure your images have the right alt tags. Search engines can’t “read” pictures, so the alt tags will tell them what’s there, especially if they are keyword specific, like your meta tags.
Don’t Ignore Social Media
Social media is a critical component to your online strategy, and the search engines do recognize certain pages and posts within social media profiles. If you’re new to social media, you should not go out and create a profile on every platform at the same time. Start with Facebook and Instagram – the most visual – and make sure your images and posts link back to your website and listing pages. You can add Twitter, Google, and other platforms as you progress.
Truth? As a real estate agent, you have to figure out how to best spend the precious hours of your day. If you aren’t web-savvy, ask a pro for help so you can focus on your leads and business. Just don’t ignore your web presence altogether. It’s definitely important.
Preparing Your Children for the Home Sale Process
Preparing Your Children for the Home Sale Process
Children are often easy-going, but when it comes to moving to a new home you might be surprised at how anxious, worried, and upset they can become. The younger they are, the more difficult things can be emotionally, as they’re confused about change to their routines. Older children are more attached to friends and other people. So what can you do to prepare them for the home sale process?
Timing is Everything
Do you really need to move right now? Are you moving far enough away that your child will have to change schools? If so, can you wait until the school year is over so that your children have time to adjust over the summer? Have you recently had a major emotional event (death, divorce, etc) that your children are dealing with? If so, you may want to postpone a move that isn’t absolutely necessary for a little while as you deal with other emotional issues. Sometimes a few weeks or months can make a huge difference.
If you can’t wait – because of work or money issues – make sure your talk about the move is always positive. Save your concerns and negativity for private discussions far out of the range of little ears.
Communication and Involvement
Whatever you do, don’t spring a surprise move on your kids. Make them as much a part of the process as everyone else in the house. Mark the move date on the calendar and start an exciting countdown. Let the kids decorate their moving boxes and help with the packing of their own toys. You might even consider letting them draw floor plans for their new rooms. Do whatever you can to make them feel as though they’re a part of the process – even if that means giving them a little bit of healthy busywork.
Socialization
Think about the things you can do to help your children make new friends in your new neighborhood. Find out about clubs, sports teams, social groups, or even summer-camp programs your kids can use to not feel isolated if you move between school years. The sooner they start meeting new people, the more comfortable they’ll feel.
Rituals are Important
Don’t let all of your family rituals go by the wayside during the hectic moving process – packing, unpacking, etc. If Friday is always family pizza night, then make sure you have pizza on Friday. If Monday is always family game night, then pull out a quick game. An hour of family down-time won’t hurt anything and will give you all the break (and reassurance about routine) you all need.
Talk to your real estate agent if you have concerns about your children and the moving process. They’ve worked with tons of families and can give you more tips to make the process a little easier!
Simple Tips for Reducing Stress during the Home Selling Process
Simple Tips for Reducing Stress during the Home Selling Process
There is no doubt about it. Selling a home is stressful. You have to clean, make repairs, and stage the home – then find the perfect real estate agent to partner with. Once you’ve done all of that, you have to juggle packing for your own move with keeping the home clean and organized for showings. It’s a lot to deal with. So what can you do to keep things relatively calm?
Have Clear Expectations
You need to start by having clear expectations that are communicated to your selling agent. You know what type of sale price you are looking for and have obviously (hopefully) discussed it. You should also know what your worst-case-scenario (or lowest) selling price will be in advance. Make sure you have any pertinent paperwork ready and available. Some of the issues (like a low price) may never come into play, but making all of the possible decisions ahead of time will take off some of the pressure associated with having to make quick choices.
Plan in Advance
Do you have a pet who needs to be removed from the home during a showing? Children? Make advance plans as to where they’ll go, and make sure you have a back-up. Having a list of people you know you can call to dog-sit or babysit for a couple of hours on short notice will be far less stressful than loading the family into the car for an unexpected “evacuation.”
Don’t Be Afraid to Purge
In other words, throw things away while you’re packing. You’ve probably accumulated a lot of “stuff” you haven’t touched in ages. Don’t make excuses about possibly using it or selling it later. If you haven’t used it in the past year, you probably won’t in the next year. Make a pile of items to donate to charity and throw the junky stuff right in the garbage. You’ll be able to get a clean, fresh, de-cluttered start in your new home.
Make a List of Tasks
Make a list of all of the little things that will need to be done – turning off and switching utilities, contacting doctor offices and credit card companies, insurance companies, etc. Prioritize service changes over simple addresses changes. For example, you’ll need to have electricity turned off at your old home and on at your new; have your cable transferred; have a new insurance policy written for the new house. Those things take more time and need more attention, so put them at the top of your list and start early to avoid stress.
Remember to breathe throughout the entire moving process. Talk to your real estate agent if you feel like you’re overwhelmed or aren’t sure what to do next in the buying or selling process.
Using Instagram to Promote Real Estate for Sale
Using Instagram to Promote Real Estate for Sale
Instagram is an incredible visual platform every real estate agent and seller should be using to promote properties. Those who are scrolling an Instagram feed are looking for quick, colorful, clear snippets of information. While you shouldn’t be using Instagram as your complete home picture gallery platform, you can definitely use it to drive traffic back to your listing sites or websites. Here’s what you need to know.
Complete Your Profile
You don’t have a ton of space to write a lot about yourself in your Instagram profile, but make sure you are using as much detail as possible. Include your main website URL, if you can. Tell people who you are and what you do. It should be short, sweet, yet informative.
Home Listings on Instagram
Don’t use Instagram as your primary gallery for home listings. Include an image, or a collage with a couple of images, for each home you want to showcase. The image(s) should be nice enough to draw interest. Use the description of the image to give a general location and a link back to your website or official listing site.
Be Consistent, but Not Boring
Be consistend with your Instagram posting, sending an image or two at least 3-4 times per week. Don’t over-do it, though. As a real estate agent, you will want to stay away from the random, fun photos people tend to share that have absolutely nothing to do with you or your business.
You don’t want to be boring, though. Between listing images, you might share a photo from your office (home or not), a neighborhood event you went to (or one in an area where you sell), pictures of your staff members at work or enjoying an office event, or things about the cities you work or sell in. Be engaging, yet professional.
Use Hashtags and Photo Maps
Hashtags are more important on Instagram than they are anywhere else. Let’s say, for example, you use #houseforsale and someone else does as well. Someone you aren’t yet connected with might click on the #houseforsale hashtag in someone else’s post and it would bring that person to a list of all of the posts using that same hashtags, from friends and strangers. Hashtags serve as an index that increase both visibility and followers. Make them specific to your business and your locations.
Photo Maps are especially great for real estate agents because they help people to better see the location of a listing. When you post an image of a listing, use the Photo Map to geotag your location so that people can see a bit more about the surrounding community and area.
Instagram shouldn’t be your only social media platform for real estate listings, but it can certainly be a strong and effective addition to your overall marketing and social portfolio.
Want to Sell Your Home Faster? Try These Tips
Want to Sell Your Home Faster? Try These Tips
The housing market is tough and buyers are very specific about what they want and where they want to look. You probably know at least one person who has sold a home with relative ease, and you probably know someone who has had a house on the market for months at a time. If you’re hoping to sell your home sooner rather than later, give a few of these tips a try.
Hide Your Pets
Believe it or not, pets are a turn-off to potential buyers. Some may be dog-lovers or cat-lovers, sure; but the ones who are afraid of dogs or who are allergic to cats are going to automatically write your home off the list. It doesn’t matter that Fido is going to move with you. Send your four-legged friends to a pet-hotel on the day of a showing and tuck the litter boxes and food dishes out of sight.
Adjust Your Pricing Mindset
It’s not a popular theory, but it seems to work. A lot of buyers start with a higher asking price, figuring they’re giving themselves a buffer if they need to drop the price later. Starting with a lower asking price, on the other hand, may encourage a bid war as potential buyers interested in the price are willing to go up a little higher to get what they want (and ultimately land closer to the selling price you want). It’s risky, but it can work if you want to move fast.
Speaking of Numbers
According to AARP, homes with prices that end in “00” are more likely to sell than homes with prices that end with “99.” The reason is this – $200 thousand is $200 thousand, and if you’re going to be completely honest with yourself, $199 thousand is $200 thousand, too. Someone who does not have a $200 thousand budget will not look at a $199 thousand home. Someone with a $200 thousand budget may not even see your $199 thousand budget in his searches. Price with zeroes and you’ll get more interest from buyers in your actual target market.
Empty Your Closets
Maybe not completely, if you’re still living there, but at least 50%. We all know you don’t need everything in your closets right now anyway. A half-full and organized closet will look neat and clean whereas a jam-packed closet gives the illusion that there isn’t actually enough closet space in the home.
Make sure you are communicating with your real estate agent frequently. She’ll be able to give you the information you need to stage the home for a faster sale. Just be open to some different, out-of-the-box ideas and you won’t be the person complaining about an unsold home in 6 months!
