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Best Season to Sell a Home
Knowing what the best season is to buy or sell a home is just the tip of the iceberg. Believe it or not, there are also best days to list a home or make an offer. Sometimes the best days to buy and sell coincide, but not always. That becomes important when you go from listing your home to shopping for a new one. It can also make a difference in how you or your broker or agent manages your sale or purchase.
Spring is the Busy Season
Hands down, spring is the busiest season to buy or sell a home. The weather is starting to warm up, but it is not so hot that people don’t want to get out and about. If anything, they are dying to get out of the house. However, this is also the season when your yard looks the worst because the snow just melted and revealed what was left after a long winter. Be sure to spruce things up a bit before you list your home.
January Starts Things Off
January doesn’t just start the new year, but is probably the best month to start making offers on homes. Most people are waiting for spring to arrive so they can get out and about in comfort. For a home buyer, this means that there is far less competition than there is going to be in a couple of months. For the home seller, it may bring some much needed relief after an expensive winter.
Tuesday and Thursday
Tuesday and Thursday have a special significance in the real estate world. The first Tuesday of the month is the day that many mortgage payments are due. That means it is a perfect day to make an offer on a house. The owner just made a payment that they really don’t care to make anymore, so they will be more inclined to accept and offer.
Thursday is the day to list a house. During the week, people are busy working and they may not have much time to patiently explore what’s for sale. Thursday posting will be listed as new listing over the weekend, so they are sure to get plenty of views.
Staying on Top of Home Maintenance: A Spring Checklist
Staying on Top of Home Maintenance: A Spring Checklist
Home maintenance is important whether you plan to sell your home or not, but it becomes critical if you really do want to move. The winter months are notoriously harsh on homes and the spring months are a great time to work down a general maintenance checklist in order to ensure there is no surprise damage later on. So where should you start?
Roofing, Siding, Chimneys, and Gutters
Check them all for damage from ice, storms, and general wear and tear. Look at your roof from afar to see if you can identify any loose or damaged shingles. Check the siding to be sure it isn’t raised or chipped. Make sure your gutters are cleaned out and weren’t damaged by ice or snow. Have a professional come out to perform regular maintenance on your chimney, ensuring there is no masonry damage and that it is clean.
If you do plan on selling your home, you may want to invest in renting a power washer to make the house look a little cleaner and brighter.
Sidewalks and Driveways
The expansion and contraction caused by freezing and melting can really do a number on driveways and sidewalks. Survey your property for cracks that may need to be filled and be especially conscious of any raised areas that could become fall hazards. The property will need to be in great shape for a sale, but this type of repair will also help you to avoid being sued by someone who falls and gets hurt.
Survey the Foundation
Look around your home and make sure there are no low or sunken areas of ground, especially near your foundation. Any areas that look low can be filled in with dirt and compacted. This prevents danger areas from uneven surfaces and, when hear the foundation, prevents water from pooling towards your home instead of away from it. It’s also important for keeping bugs away, as water won’t have a place to stand after storms.
Fire up the A/C
Have a professional come out and service your HVAC unit. There is nothing worse than having a potential buyer walk into a home on a hot spring or summer day only to be greeted by more heat. We guarantee they won’t give your home a second thought once they walk out the door.
Regular home maintenance will make it easier for you to sell your home when you’re ready – even if that time isn’t right now. If you are ready, talk to your real estate agent about special home maintenance items or staging tasks you should be paying attention to. Every little bit counts.
