Real Estate Matters
By Elisa Jo Eagan
Summer is a time to enjoy some well deserved relaxation, but it is also a great time to look for a new home. These tips will have you ready to house hunt and to sell your home simultaneously.
In most markets, the spring season usually is the most important time of the year for buying and or selling a home. Both buyers and sellers are taking a close look at their options.
We have had a very active late spring and now an early summer market is expected to develop, allowing hopeful buyers and sellers to fulfill their 2023 real estate goals.
How should you plan for this summer market? Here are the best tips for both buyers and sellers for an effective summer real estate season.
FOR BUYERS
Look for Bargains
While a large amount of days on market might usually have a negative connotation, remember that many homes sitting without offers may have listed early in the selling cycle.
They may be perfectly nice, move-in ready homes that simply hit the market at the wrong time.
At the same time, due to economic conditions, many homeowners may be moving to find a new job or to get out from under their current debt load now while they can. This may make them highly motivated and looking for a quick sale.
In either case, sometimes you may be able to negotiate more than you normally would even in this hot market. Ask your real estate professional to research for you and to provide and discuss with you the most current comparable homes listed and sold in the surrounding neighborhood of the homes that you are most interested in.
Think Logistics
It’s easier to be charmed by a home in the summertime, when it is at its lightest and brightest. You will no doubt imagine long days on the deck, grilling outside with friends, and plenty of backyard playtime for the kids.
Remember, however, that fall will turn to winter, and those indoor spaces will once again become the most important parts of the home.
Make sure that the home’s interior works for you the way that your family lives now. Do you all spend time gathered together in the family room or do you like your own individual space? Do you and your husband both work from home now? Do you each need a home office, preferably far away from each other? Is there enough space for everyone to get their work done?
Thinking through the way you and your family live each day is an important part of making sure that you are all comfortable and productive.
Consider Upkeep
An elaborate garden, manicured shrubbery, and other impressive landscaping may give a home tremendous appeal. However, if you are not an experienced gardener, will you be able to maintain that look? How much will it cost to hire a professional to do so?
Consider the home you are looking at from every angle, including upkeep, maintenance, and utility costs throughout the year. Those lush green trees will drop a lot of leaves in the fall. Those high ceilings may present a heating challenge come winter. Think through the pros and cons of every season when you are evaluating your new home’s appeal.
FOR SELLERS
Inventory is Low
You may have been on the fence about selling your home this year. However, low inventory makes this a great time to sell, and you may even find yourself fielding multiple offers on your home.
At the same time you and your real estate professional will want to talk through ways to only bring qualified buyers through your home and to include upgraded professional photography, drone and videography for a more impressive presentation and vamped up online marketing of your home.
Accentuate Outdoors
During the summer, outdoor spaces become one of the home’s most effective selling points. Take a look at your existing outdoor spaces. Do they look as good as they could?
The grass may be perfect, but how do the hardscapes look? Consider pressure washing paths, patios, and driveways to make your outdoor spaces look their best.
Want to spruce up your outdoor spaces even more? A new patio umbrella, newly painted porch furniture, or some easy-care plants may take your porch or deck from good to great. These affordable updates can really improve your home’s curb appeal without breaking the bank.
Lighten Up
Before photography, video tours, or in-person showings, open every curtain and blind, turn on all of the lamps, and flood your home with light. Replace heavy draperies with light and gauzy linen. This is the time to open up the window coverings and let the sun shine in.
If you have overgrown trees or shrubbery, consider having them strategically trimmed to let in even more light and enhance your home’s exterior spaces.
Summertime Staging
Brightening up your home’s interior doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. Consider the following staging strategies:
Replace dark throws and cushions with light, bright, summery colors that pop.
Focus on decluttering to make your space feel as light as possible.
Replace heavy, dark rugs with bare floors or natural fiber rugs.
Replace dark, formal artwork with light, bright, unframed canvases.
Consider the air quality in your home. Run air purifiers or open windows wide for a breath of fresh air.
Don’t limit yourself to visual cues. Consider summertime scents of citrus or greenery in candles or fragrance diffusers.
For More Real Estate Questions, Information and Advice Contact Elisa Jo Eagan “The Real Estate Godmother” (609)703-0432 and Remember…”There’s No Place Like Owning Your Own Home!”
