If you are thinking about selling and wondering if it would be better to wait until spring, here are few reasons why it may make sense to list now:
- There are fewer homes for sale which means less competition for your property.
- There may not be as many buyers out looking but those who are house hunting are serious buyers.
- Prices are expected to appreciate 5% over the next year (CoreLogic). If you are moving to a higher priced home, it could cost more if you wait.
- The process will be quicker as lenders and appraisers are not swamped this time of year.
If you feel it’s time to move on with your life then it may not be worth waiting for the spring market. With proper pricing and enhancing your home for maximum effect, a house will sell regardless of the month. Give me a call to get the Better Homes & Gardens The Milestone Team advantage any time of year. Donna Forest 603-526-4116, www.DonnaForest.com, Donna@DonnaForest.com
I recently spent 2 days at a class put on by the Real Estate Business Institute to become a certified negotiation expert and thought it would be good to share some points made during this time. Some might just surprise you!
- Negotiations are really between the two agents and not the buyers & sellers. While the goal is for each to get the best possible outcome based on their clients’ needs and wants, the reality is that it is the two agents who are communicating with each who make it happen. How well the agents negotiate with each other can make or break it for their clients.
- In any negotiation, you need to know if the market conditions are with or against you. For example, if you are a buyer in a sellers’ market, the market may push you to make decisions quickly.
- If a deal gets “deadlocked”, sometimes taking a time-out is helpful to allow everyone to re-group and re-assess their wants and needs.
- There are always at least 2 negotiation points in a sale – the first with the offer and the 2nd after the home inspections.
- The best negotiator will focus on the fix and not the fight.
Contact me if you’d like to have a skilled negotiator working on your side to help achieve your “yes”! Donna Forest 603-526-4116, www.DonnaForest.com, Donna@DonnaForest.com.
Incredibly private, 4+ bedroom, 4.5 bath free-standing condominium has so much to offer! Hardwood floors, spacious eat-in kitchen, many custom built-ins, screened porch and plenty of living space. The second level has two ensuite bedrooms and reading loft. The finished lower level includes a family room, office, bunk room, laundry, cedar closet and excellent storage space. Attached, two car garage. Monthly assessment iincludes trash, snow removal, water and lawn maintenance. Offered at $570,000. For more information, visit http://tour.circlepix.com/home/M5KGNM/42-The-Seasons-42-New-London-NH-4648203
Emily Campbell, Listing Agent, 603-526-4116
"Nature is not a place to visit. It is home." (Gary Snyder - Poet) Once you see this impressive timber frame, you will immediately feel at home along with a deep sense of peacefulness. Set on the Blackwater River with its own island, it is the perfect spot for paddling, swimming, bird watching, or just relaxing. Designed for easy living, the post and beam construction artfully frames every room, from the kick-your-shoes-off-and-stay living room to the expansive kitchen, to every bedroom - all of which have their own tile and glass block bathrooms. No detail is overlooked - large mudroom, boat storage under the garage, a practical laundry room, whole house air conditioning, and an ERV system. Warm woods, cathedral ceiling, skylights, and an abundance of windows all combine to create this captivating home. For more information, visit www.NHRiverfront.com. Offered at $439,900.
Donna Forest, Listing Broker, 603-526-4116
Don’t Be Surprised By….
Next to price, most buyers focus on the location and appearance of the property. Below are some lesser known factors to consider when house hunting.
- Private Roads – if the house is located on a private road, find out if there is a road maintenance agreement with the other owners. Lenders may require one before they issue a mortgage.
- Flood Zone - Looking at waterfront? Flood insurance could be required if the structure is located in the flood zone.
- Lead Paint – Homes built prior to 1978 could contain lead paint and the paint flakes or dust can present a health hazard. Even if the paint is in great condition, keep in mind any renovations by a contractor that would disturb areas with lead paint may cost more as they have to be certified and follow specific safety practices.
- Age of Systems – Even if it is well maintained, systems don’t last forever. Well pumps, furnaces, water heaters, and even septic systems have a life span. Knowing the age of these systems will help prepare for future expenses and may factor into your offer price.
Avoid costly surprises on your home purchase by working with me as your Accredited Buyer’s Representative! 603-526-4116, www.DonnaForest.com, Donna@DonnaForest.com
Teamwork from the Team that works –Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate - The Milestone Team
People often assume that the kitchen or living room is at the heart of the home, but when you see these ideas to help corral the chaos in your mudroom, you might decide that the area just inside your front door is the true command center of your house. If you don’t have a dedicated room or hallway carved out for a purpose-built mudroom, don’t despair: a few hooks, storage baskets and designated shoe racks can make all the difference in a house where multiple family members use—and abuse—the front hallway as a dumping ground. Good mudroom design can be just what you need to corral clutter and get an entryway you—and potential home buyers—absolutely love.
Establish a mudroom zone
Even homes with grand entries sometimes find themselves challenged by the lack of front- or back-door space to store daily necessities. A few options can help. A slim drawer underneath a bench offers a spot to stash seasonal items. With no room for traditional shoe storage solutions, boots and other footwear sit close by; place them in a tray to catch loose moisture and dirt. A tray makes it easy to clean up melted snow or mud that comes in on boots; simply take the entire tray outside to dump accumulated dirt or snow, then replace.
Use baskets for outdoor items
It makes sense to have some items close at hand for out-of-house comings and goings. A shelf above coat storage in this mudroom has space for containers with various items such as sunscreen, bandages and more. Keep similar items, such as bug spray, together and label the containers (adhesive or tied-on tags work well). You might also consider assigning a basket to each member of your family, then letting them use it however they like to corral their personal clutter
Tuck shoes out of the way
Although it’s handy to have all mudroom storage together, sometimes a dedicated shoe-storage solution just isn’t feasible. Instead, carve out nooks and crannies where you can. A small recessed area offers a just-right spot for multiple shoe shelves.
Sliding shelves are a useful tool in mudrooms, too, helping to streamline access to items. Choose heavy-duty, easy-to-clean surfaces in a mudroom, particularly for the floor, that rely on color and texture to mask any messes or daily dirt. And don’t forget to put a tray under a shoe rack to catch the debris from several rows of shoes above.
Use extra storage for essentials
Some mudrooms are hidden and expansive enough to store more than just coats and shoes. For peculiarly shaped items that may not easily stay grouped—toilet paper, for example—use decorative baskets (lidded or not) to keep them in order.
Source: www.bhgre.com/bhgrelife
Take a look at this New London condo! The Seasons at Lake Sunapee Country Club is a premier residential community. Lake Sunapee Country Club offers an 18 hole golf course, tennis and a pool for its members (not included in fees). A public restaurant is within walking distance. This three bedroom three bath unit overlooks the 10th green with views of Mt. Kearsarge. Monthly association fee is currently $777. Offered at $250,000.
Jane Snow, Listing Agent, 603-526-4116
Spectacular, well-appointed, vacation home or primary residence with water access to Lake Sunapee and all the comforts you need on a private cul de sac, wooded setting. Open concept, light-filled great room, first floor or second floor master suites, enormous family room with pellet stove and deck, two additional bedrooms on the second floor with another full bath. Nothing left undone - air conditioning, generator, even a 3 person sauna and exercise room! Attached two car garage PLUS separate detached 3 car heated garage/barn to store all your toys - bonus room above. About 2 miles to Lake Sunapee State Beach or Mount Sunapee for year-round fun! Ten miles to I-89. It's time to live where you play! Offered at $649,000. For more photos and details, visit http://tour.circlepix.com/home/6HNGX5/24-Shadow-Lane-Sunapee-NH-4651980
Anne Marie Appel, Listing Agent, 603-526-4116
Teamwork from the Team that works –Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate - The Milestone Team
Want a higher price and shorter time on the market for your home? You should be staging your house by adding decorative touches and updates. Here are a few “To Do’s” before going on the market:
- Have your Realtor go room to room making suggestions for improvement. Ask them to be honest and be prepared for constructive criticism.
- Pay attention to the kitchen. Put away cookbooks, utensils, excess cooking machines, etc. Put new hardware on the cabinets for a quick update. Clean off windowsills, organize cabinets.
- Update bedrooms and baths. Buy new bedcovers. Add a new shower curtain with matching towels. Clear off countertops, nightstands, and dressers.
- Boost curb appeal with fresh mulch, potted flowers, add new exterior lighting, and paint the front door.
Remember, first impressions count. If this sounds like too much for you to attempt, there are professional staging companies in the area that can do as much or as little as you’d like. Simple changes can have a big impact on the appeal of your home. Contact me if you’d like more advice on selling. 603-526-4116; www.DonnaForest.com; Donna@DonnaForest.com
Selling your house can be scary: It’s been your home, where you’ve lived and made memories. Chances are good it’s your most important asset and your biggest investment so far. Wrestling with the emotional heft of putting your home on the market is a difficult byproduct of real estate — but once a closing date has been set, the hard work is done. Right?
Actually, it’s not uncommon for sellers to feel pangs of regret when a buyer gets serious. If you’re feeling remorse for your soon-to-be-former home, don’t panic: You’re far from alone.
“When you’re selling a house, you’re not selling an object,” says Bill Primavera, a REALTOR® in Westchester County, N.Y., and “The Home Guru” blogger. “A house provides shelter and is probably the biggest thing we ever acquire, so it has a bigger impact on our life.”
The Origins of Seller's Remorse
Moving is one of life’s biggest stressors. According to Daryl Cioffi, a Rhode Island counselor and co-owner of Polaris Counseling & Consulting, it’s one of the biggest instigators for depression.
“There’s a lot of latent stuff that happens when change occurs,” Cioffi says. Are you feeling insecure? Are you wondering if you made the right decision? Those feelings are normal reactions to change — but when they get tangled up with the sale of your biggest investment, they can be downright terrifying.
Related: 9 Feelings That Are Totally Normal When You Sell Your Home
Here are some things you can do to help you manage the emotional roller coaster that comes with selling your home:
Do the Emotional Work Beforehand
Doing the emotional work before it’s time to sell is the best way to avoid regret.
“Look at the flaws of what makes it not the perfect home for you,” Cioffi says. Is it just too small for your family? Does your Great Dane need a bigger backyard? Ask yourself, “How can I close this chapter?”
That doesn’t mean you have to develop negative feelings toward your current home. You’re just trying to remind yourself of why you decided to move on.
Here's how to cope:
“Begin the detachment process by saying: ‘This works for me now, but it won’t work for me forever,’” Cioffi says.
Once you’ve processed your reasons for selling the home, give yourself space to grieve the house you’ve loved and the memories you’ve made inside its walls. It’s OK to be sad you’ll never step inside your child’s first bedroom again; conversely, that’s not a reason to stay in a home forever. You can even have fun with your grief. Why not acknowledge your feelings by throwing a goodbye party for your house?
Focus On the Future
Working through your feelings early will make the selling process smoother, but even if you spent time grieving before putting your home on the market, it’s still normal to feel some pangs of sadness during closing. While it’s easy to tell yourself you’re overreacting, getting past remorse isn’t a simple process.
How can you do it? Say goodbye to your old home and prepare yourself for what’s next. If you’re still feeling remorse after the sale has gone through, don’t overthink it: Even if you did make the wrong decision — and chances are good you didn’t — it doesn’t matter. The deed is, quite literally, done.
The next step is distraction. If you’ve already moved into your new home, throw yourself into fixing it up. Redo the shelving in the kitchen. Start a garden. Primavera recommends taking your mind off of homes completely by picking up a new hobby or exploring your new neighborhood to find fun activities, like yoga or pottery classes.
“Keep your mind focused on what’s ahead,” says Cioffi. “The fact is, it’s done. Now what? Look forward and focus on how you can make this new place something to be excited about.”
If you’re still having problems adjusting to your new life, your old home might just be a stand-in for bigger problems: Perhaps a depression worsened by moving, or it has triggered anxiety about your life in general. A long-term struggle to resolve your grief indicates you should speak with a professional counselor about your situation.
Cioffi says a good therapist will help you answer the questions, “What’s going on that you can’t let go?” and “What’s keeping you from moving forward?”
No matter how deep your seller’s remorse may be, uncovering the reasons behind it and focusing on the future are the best ways to let go of the stress of leaving a former home behind. Give yourself time to get used to the change and focus on creating new memories. After all, the happy life you had in the home you sold was the reason you loved it so much. Someday, with a new set of memories made, you’ll love your new home just as deeply.
By J
is a writer and editor with a focus on home improvement and design. Previously, she worked as a web editor for “House Beautiful,” “ELLE Decor,” and “Veranda.”
Visit Houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from Houselogic.com with permission of the National Association of REALTORS