Is winter over yet? The snow and short daylight hours make the season stretch out longer. At least, it can feel that way. We’ve been keeping a close eye on the market, and have to report that January was a lean month. This is good news for sellers, because it means listing your house now will get lots of buyer attention. It’s distressing for buyers, because they may have to compete to win the home they want or compromise on the amenities. Those sellers who are also buying are caught squarely in the middle.
Continue reading “January 2022 – Real Estate Round-Up”Tag: sellers
Upper Kittitas County – August 2021 Real Estate Market Round-Up
Autumn is upon us, and we’re starting to see the first signs of the market slowing down as usual around this time of year. Everyone is starting to prepare for the holiday gauntlet—Spooktober, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year. We’re looking forward to upcoming events with friends and family, but first, we need to assess the market for the last month of summer.
Continue reading “Upper Kittitas County – August 2021 Real Estate Market Round-Up”The Top 5 Benefits of Selling Your Home in the Fall
Are you ready to move today? Don’t wait until Spring to list when you can get your house sold NOW! Despite what you may have heard, there are a lot of reasons why fall might actually be the best time to sell your home.
Less Competition
One of the perks of listing your home in autumn is that there is far less competition in the market. Since most home owners decide to list during the spring and summer, you won’t have to try and stand out amongst hordes of homes.
Higher Sales Price
Another bonus to listing your house in the fall is a higher sales price. You will be looking at the summer activity and what homes sold for during those months to determine how to list your house. The homes that sold in the summer will also be used as comparables on your appraisal which can yield a higher value.
More Serious Buyers
Buyers who are purchasing during the autumn typically have a sense of urgency in their home buying process. Often they have been looking through the warmer months and haven’t been able to find the right home for whatever reason. By the time fall comes around they are ready to buy and close on their new home. This also means fewer showings of buyers who are just trying to see “what’s out there” on the market.
Past the Back-to-School Slump
Contrary to what many people believe, August, one of the summer months, is actually one of the worst months to list your house. Many buyers with kids prefer to be settled in August, not go under contract. Their reasoning is so they will have time to unpack and settle in before school starts.
Homeowners who list in August may find themselves surprised by how little traffic they get coming into their home. Listing in the fall allows home owners to avoid the back to school slump in the real estate season.
Home for the Holidays
An added benefit to selling your house in the fall is getting settled into your new home for the holidays. Buying a house in the fall means you’ll start creating new holiday traditions and memories in your home right away.
Don’t let the real estate summer myth dissuade you from listing your house during autumn. You may be pleasantly surprised by all of the benefits to selling your home during the fall months.
10 Ways To Get Your Kitchen Sparkling Before Listing Your Home
The kitchen is one of the most used rooms in the house making it also the most difficult to keep clean. However, with a little planning and deep-cleaning up front, you can keep the mess at bay. Here are ten recommendations for getting and keeping your kitchen in tip-top shape when it is listed:
- Cabinets – Reducing clutter in cabinets is essential for making your kitchen seem spacious to potential buyers. We recommend that you first get rid of everything that isn’t coming with you to your new home, such as old spices, broken dishes, and duplicate spatulas — Only keep what you will need for the next 90 days.
- Cabinet Facing – If your cabinet doors are a little worn or just greasy, first give them a cleaning as appropriate for their finish. If they need a little sprucing up, call in a cabinet refacing expert (we know a stellar expert, if you’re interested!) It will be much cheaper than replacing and the results are almost always amazing!
- Countertops – Depending on the material your counters are made of, give them an appropriate cleaning. Make sure the seams between pieces are clean and re-caulk if needed.
- Oven – The oven should get a good cleaning on the self-clean cycle. Also give the stovetop a deep clean, restoring it to new condition with the best of your ability. This is also a good time to clean the filters in the range hood.
- Fridge – Is it really necessary to stage the inside of your fridge? Yes! First, make a concerted effort to declutter by throwing away everything you aren’t taking with you. Old cheese, ketchup packets, and random condiments need to be disposed of. Then give the shelves and drawers a good cleaning. Do a similar treatment to the freezer
- Dishwasher – Although this does a good job of cleaning itself, clean the filter, clean the bottom and run a cycle with white vinegar if appropriate for your model.
- Garbage – The area around the garbage can can get a little messy. Give it a good cleaning and clean the garbage can while you are at it – inside and out. Same with any recycling containers.
- Sink – For your sink area, make sure the drain is sparkling clean, detail around the faucet, replace the sponge often, and run some citrus or vinegar down the drain to clear grease and smells.
- Dishes and Glasses – When you clean your cabinets, you may find that your dishes are chipped and you are ready for a new set. A fresh set of matching dishes and glasses can be just the ticket for breathing new life into your cabinet, but don’t include more than a set of eight.
- Pots and Pans – Determine your three to five most-needed pots and pans and pack up or get rid of the rest. If they are in rough shape, resist the urge to use a pot rack or store them on the cooktop. Find a handy cabinet and stack neatly.
A kitchen will usually be the make or break point for a potential buyer, so take the time to make this room shine and make it sparkle for the duration of the listing.