Many sellers are tempted to take their homes off the market between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. They feel the market significantly slows down and that they have little chance of selling - so why disrupt their holidays? While the slowdown may be true to some degree, there are several advantages for keeping a house on the market during this time frame. First, buyers that are out looking are serious buyers and are ready to offer on something they like. In addition, there usually are fewer properties on the market this time of year so the competition is reduced. Plus the holidays offer a perfect time to dress up a home for prospective buyers. Sellers looking to sell should seriously consider keeping their homes on the market through the holidays – it may turn out to be their most wonderful time of the year!
If you are looking for an experienced REALTOR with the common sense to help sell your house in any season, then give me a call! 603-526-4116, www.DonnaForest.com, Donna@DonnaForest.com
Teamwork from the Team that works –Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate - The Milestone Team
It takes more than just putting a sign on your front lawn to sell a house. Below are some surefire ways to make your house attractive to buyers.
- Maintain the Yard – First impressions count and mowed lawns, trimmed bushes, fresh mulch help.
- Remove Clutter & Personal Items – Decluttered rooms will feel larger. Remove family photos, collections, etc. so buyers can picture themselves in the house.
- Get a Professional Cleaner – Sparkling windows, shampooed carpets, spotless kitchen & baths will speak volumes to buyers.
- Let the Sun in – Light & bright sells. Remove curtains, open blinds, put in high wattage bulbs.
- Paint – A fresh coat of paint (neutral colors) makes the house seem larger, brighter & more appealing.
Getting ready to sell involves a lot of time and energy. Contact me for more sound advice on how to prep your home for sale. www.DonnaForest.com; Donna@DonnaForest.com; 603-526-4116
Whether you bought a starter home or what you hoped would be a forever home,circumstances change. One thing that doesn’t change though, is the inevitable expansion that occurs when you become a homeowner. As time goes on, you acquire tools that need to be used just once or twice a year, like step ladders and extension ladders, lawn mowers, edgers and leaf blowers. When it’s time to sell, you may find you’ve expanded just a bit too much. Getting rid of clutter is the first thing you need to do when you’re thinking of putting your home on the market, and sadly, unless you move frequently, there are very few peoplewho don’t accumulate more than they should.
Here are seven reasons you need to get rid of that clutter to ensure a quick home sale.
1. It’s all about imagined lives
Clutter makes it hard to think.You may not think of your collection of exotic masks from your foreign travels as clutter. But let’s face it, we don’t all like the same things, and if your home is bursting with small objects, buyers can’t imagine themselves in your space. You have to make room for them and their imagined lives in what might soon be their home rather than yours. Store the highly personal collections during the selling process so buyers can see the space as theirs, and they’ll be more likely to make an immediate offer.
2. Help the potential buyer maintain focus
Extra seating, family photos and bone china tea cup collections are all distractions.You don’t want potential buyers to become so intrigued (or puzzled) by the things you’ve collected—none of which they’ll be purchasing—that they don’t actually register the house itself. You want them to look at the space,appreciate its best features and become convinced of its potential for their family.
3. Create the illusion of space to entice buyers
By getting rid of extra seating, paring down the clothes in your closets and weeding out everything in the pantry that’s past its best-before date, you create the illusion of more space, which is always a good thing when trying to sell a home. After all, empty rooms always look bigger than rooms filled with furniture.
Be strategic, though, and don’t leave yourself with nowhere to sit. Think of your home as wearing its Sunday best rather than sweats and a t-shirt, and if there’s a chair the cat’s clawed, the sun has faded or that needs cleaning or reupholstering, get it out of the house while potential buyers are viewing. There will be plenty of time to kick back and relax in that past-its-prime lounger when you’re moved into your new home.
4. Well-staged homes photograph better
While you might get a viewing from a drive-by or after an open house, most potential buyers these days are going to look at your house and its listing online. Good photos make all the difference here, but you’re not going to get them if you haven’t decluttered. Put the family photos away, get all the toys into the toy box, remove the gym equipment that’s migrated from the basement to other living areas and make your real estate agent’s job easier by presenting a home that shows to advantage in both photos and real life.
5. Maximize kitchen counter space
Yes, it’s a pain. But even though your family uses the toaster and blender everyday, putting them away in cupboards before viewings provides a clean slate and makes potential home buyers think about all the meals they’re going to prepare in their new home.
If your home’s being shown to first-time home buyers, chances are good they’re looking for more space, particularly an opportunity to expand from a galley kitchen to one that has room for a table and chairs. Help them believe they’regoing to be transformed into hosts with the most when they buy your home by giving them the visual space they need.
6. Don’t borrow trouble
Cluttered homes make potential buyers uneasy. Viewing someone else’s occupied home is slightly uncomfortable for most people. Clutter is not only a distraction; it makes your home look uncared for. This can make potential buyers start to ask themselves, “if they haven’t taken care of their possessions, what other problems are brewing here?” You could lose an offer if this kind of nebulous doubt sets in.
7. Let your home show itself
Let’s face it—you’re selling your home, not the couch and coffee table. By getting rid of clutter and replacing it with neutral but stylish accessories, you lead the buyer’s eye to the features of your home that are its true selling points. That means you’re going to get a quicker sale and a higher price than if you make a potential buyer struggle to see your home’s merits.
OK – I confess – I have a pet peeve about photos. Specifically about poorly done photos on properties that are listed for sale. I get really annoyed when I see dimly lit rooms, kitchens with cluttered countertops, refrigerators covered in magnets and papers, and out of focus pictures. Sellers, you deserve better - homes with high quality photos sell 32% faster.
Given that over 90% of buyers start their search online, if you don’t have great photos, your property is going to be bypassed in seconds. And buyers will not go back to review it once they’ve weeded it out. So sellers, do yourself a favor and go view how your house looks online. If you are not seeing clean lines, decluttered and bright rooms with wide angle lens shots, and crisp photos, then it is time to have an honest conversation with your agent on how you can better prepare your house for photos. And you need to ask the agent how they will take higher quality photos. Contact me if you want to work with an agent who knows how to maximize your online presence. DonnaForest.com; Donna@DonnaForest.com; 603-526-4116
If you are thinking about selling, determining the right value is your number one priority. While sometimes it seems the price is picked out of thin air, there really are 3 methods for determining value. Below is a brief explanation of each.
1. Market Analysis - Prepared by a real estate agent to provide an estimate of the probable selling price, expressed as a range. Using similar active and recently sold properties and factoring in the many characteirstics that impact value, it is a guide to help the seller determine a listing price.
2. Appraisal - a much more in-depth analysis done by a licensed appraiser. Typically appraisals are used in the loan process to ensure the value of the home is equal to or greater than the purchase price, thus protecting the lender's interest.
3. Automated Valuation - Used by Zillow and other companies, the value is calculated by software based on mathematical modeling. While convenient, it misses important price influences such as property condition and location (e.g. on a busy street).
Want to know your home's value? Contact me - I just completed a 6 hour class on mastering the market analysis! 25 years in the business and still keeping current - so put my knowledge to work for you! Donna Forest 526-4116, www.DonnaForest.com, Donna@DonnaForest.com
If you are on the fence about selling, this might be the best year to put your house on the market. Below are 5 reasons why selling now will put more money in your pocket!
- The median home price is at an all-time high. In NH, the median home sales price was $282,500 in 2018, surpassing the peak of the market in 2005 at $270,000.
- There still is low inventory which means buyers are competing for homes. Multiple offers are not unusual!
- Mortgage rates have fallen since the start of the year – meaning more buyers can afford to buy.
- Milennials are entering the market – nearly 5 million will be turning 30 in the next 2 years – they scooped up homes last year and 2019 should be no different.
- Some economists are predicting an economic slowdown in 2020, which could impact housing sales.
If you are thinking about selling, contact me to see how the market could impact you. 603-526-4116, www.DonnaForest.com, Donna@DonnaForest.com
Now that winter is here, it brings a new set of challenges for sellers. Here are a few common sense tips to follow.
1. Make sure your driveway is always plowed and entryways clear.
2. Keep walkways and stairs clear of snow and ice.
3. Set thermostat in a vacant house to at least 55 to 60 degrees. A warm house holds more appeal and buyers will take their time looking. If a home is cold, buyers will rush through and it leaves a negative impression.
4. Put a large, heavy duty rug in front of the door used for entry to provide space for buyers' wet boots.
5. Let in the light. Push back drapes, open blinds, install higher wattage bulbs.
6. If you have great summer photos of the yard, leave them out for buyers to view.
If you are looking for an experienced REALTOR with the common sense to help sell your house in any season, then give me a call. 603-526-4116, www.DonnaForest.com, Donna@DonnaForest.com
As we roll towards December, it seems like every agent is being asked the same question from their sellers - should I keep my house on the market through the winter? Unless you absolutely do not want to move in the winter, it is usually best to keep your house for sale. There are pros and cons, however. Yes, there are fewer buyers out looking, but these buyers are serious and motivated. Also, at this time of year, there is less inventory meaning less competition for your property. During the holidays there are a number of people coming back home to visit family who may decide to start their house hunt now. If your house is not on the market it for sure will not sell. It only takes one buyer to sell a home. You don't want to miss them by not having your house available to be shown. Looking for an experienced agent to help you sell? Contact me and put my 24 years of knowledge to work for you. 603-526-4116, Donna@DonnaForest.com, www.DonnaForest.com.
Having great online photos is the key to selling your house quickly. Below are some must do’s before the photographer arrives.
- Clean & clear kitchen and bathroom counters
- Replace burned out light bulbs
- Remove unnecessary furniture & décor
- Clear refrigerator of magnets, etc.
- Remove floor mats, runners
- Make all beds, fluff pillows, clear off nightstands & dressers
- Remove heavy drapes and unnecessary curtains
- Hide pet bowls, beds, toys
- Tidy the yard, sweep the decks, hide trash cans
- Remove all cars from the driveway
Remember, your goal is to go for the HGTV look. Light, clean, decluttered. Making your house look as appealing as possible will translate to more money in your pocket. Contact me for more valuable tips on prepping your home for sale. Donna@DonnaForest.com, www.DonnaForest.com, 603-526-4116
Selling and in the throes of packing and moving? Below are some tips to help get through those final days to avoid creating work for yourself at the last minute.
- Don’t leave personal items unless buyers agreed to it. While you may think you are doing them a favor by leaving the bar stools, the buyers could view it differently. You don’t want to be coming back to remove things right before the closing. Always check first.
- Leftover paint, tile, & cleaning supplies. All useful for the new owners, right? Confirm that buyers want it left. It’s not easy to get rid of this stuff at the last minute.
- You may be closing in a week, but you still need to maintain the yard. Having buyers pull up to a house with foot high grass to do their walk-through inspection could be contentious.
- Be sure to understand what stays with the house. Check with your agent before removing anything attached. For example, hooks, shelves, blinds, light fixtures, & TV brackets should be left unless specified otherwise.
- Don’t leave multiple holes in the walls where pictures hung. Take a few minutes to spackle and paint.
Thinking of selling? Contact me and put my 24 years of real estate knowledge to work for you! 603-526-4116, www.DonnaForest.com, Donna@DonnaForest.com