Real Estate Update

If anticipating the market for you is fun, just think about Two Thousand Twenty One!

What's New for Two Thousand Twenty Two?

WHILE THE LOCAL BUYING FRENZY HAS COOLED OFF SLIGHTLY, THAT'S ALWAYS TRUE OF THE HOLIDAY/WINTER SEASON. LOCAL HOME INVENTORY IS STILL VERY LOW, AND SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES CONTINUE TO PLAGUE LOCAL BUILDERS.

So come the spring thaw, we're most likely looking at a red hot seller's market again in 2022. Home mortgage rates are still at very desireable levels which is great for buyers, and homeowners are looking at record levels of equity increases tempting them to list their home and get that money in-hand for new plans. Both are indicators of spring and summer transactions picking up to a fever pitch again soon.

Are you thinking of getting into the home selling game this season? What should you do to prepare if you're thinking about listing this spring?

1. Attend to maintainence projects you may have put off for a while. Get that HVAC system tuned up, check on the roof, do you need paint? Exterior or interior? Or both? Do you have flakey extension cords running here and there? What's happening in the garage? Remember, your home sale will include inspections -- it's better to be ahead of the game than to bring your transaction to a halt with a bad inspection result.

2. De-clutter! Home shoppers don't want to see all of your stuff like photos of every relative you have, or your collection of figurines, or your stack of newspapers from 1978. Home buyers need to be able to picture your home as their home -- that is the goal after all. So put aunt Mabel's framed photo in a box and get her ready for a place of prominence in your next home.

3. Clean and refresh. Sure, you love your Saint Bernard, but as far as home shoppers are concerned, he's a soggy mess in the winter. Make sure to keep Fido's lifestyle under control, at least until your potential buyers have sealed the deal. 4. Kitchen and bath, redo any less than perfect silicon sealer, clean tile grout and repair or replace any funky faucets, towel bars, or shower caddys. Definitely lose the furry toilet seat cover.

5. Staging, if you're home doesn't give people a cool and chic feeling like they just walked into an Ikea showroom, call a local stager. Good staging companies will bring all that cool stuff over and make your home look like a million bucks. Sure it costs a bit to have your home staged, but it will be well worth it when you realize a quick sale at full asking price, or if the recent local market holds true, a bidding war!

6. How's your curb appeal? In some instances, the "walk-up" to your home can leave a big impression. Do buyers have to mess around with sticky gates, or make their way through a jungle of unkept foliage? How's the front door working, is it sticky, does it make a haunted house noise upon opening? All of these are key to getting off on the right foot. Deal with them early!

7. Don't hover, buyers don't like to feel like they are being watched by store security. They like to talk amongst themselves when they are making this very important decision. It's kind of like you're the groom seeing the bride before the wedding -- make yourself scarce! Professional real estate agents are good at keeping the show moving and at not letting potential buyers get off track, let them do their job.

Pro tip: when you know you have a showing scheduled, bake cookies! Buyers love to walk into a home that smells like fresh baked cookies! Or if that's too much work, boil a little apple juice with a cinnamon stick in it on the stove for a few minutes -- same result, less work. Of course if you can actually offer buyers a warm cookie, that can't hurt, it works for the Marriott Hotel chain!

Good luck with your sale, and enjoy your next destination!