Selling Your Home | Twin Cities MN Realtor - Ryan DeRoode

Should I List My Home in Winter?

Every year the same question arises: “Should I list my home in winter?” And the resounding answer is “Yes!” While many people believe that spring is the best selling season, this is simply untrue. The market does change and conform to the seasons, and these changes often benefit sellers, especially when it comes to listing your home before spring arrives. The number of transactions are definitely higher in the Spring, but you’d be surprised at the number of homes that sell in the heart of Winter.

The truth is there are buyers looking for homes every month of the year.

Why Should You List Your Home This Winter?

1. Simple Supply and Demand: You Have Less Competition

The most appealing draw for many sellers to list in the wintertime is that there aren’t as many properties for buyers to cruise through. This means you may be more likely to achieve that asking price or even have multiple offers with a reasonable amount of time.

Come spring, there are a ton of options for buyers to choose from, many of which have just completed renovations and upgrades. So, listing in winter can give you an edge.

2. Winter Buyers Tend to Be More Serious

Many people have built-in time off around the holidays, so they schedule their house hunting during these times. This means they’re ready to shop and ready to buy.

Many winter buyers have set time frames that revolve around the new year, and relocating for work. This makes them very serious about finding a place. Why? Because they have a deadline.

And you probably know what deadlines mean: quick closing dates.

3. You Can Create a Different Kind of Curb Appeal

So what if you don’t have a green thumb? It doesn’t matter in winter! In fact, winter offers a unique form of curb appeal. You can show buyers how homey, warm, and inviting your place can be during the holidays.

So, let the kids build snowmen, hang the lights, and wrap the garland around your mailbox, buyers will surely fall for a home they see as cozy, cheerful, and charming all year long!

Don’t forget to carry your decorating through the inside of your home this time of year. We have some tips for you, here!

4. You Can Show Off How Well Your Home Handles Our Winters

Do you know what people love in Minnesota winters? Garages and well-insulated homes. If you can offer these features, they make your home very appealing in the wintertime. Fireplaces have a huge draw come winter as well. And nothing feels better than walking into a cozy home, after facing freezing temps and bitter wind.

5. First Time Parents Often Look During Winter

This is one of those patterns that reappears year after year: new parents want to upgrade in winter. The majority of children are born towards the end of summer and into fall. And within a couple of months, their parents realize they’ll need a bit more space. So, they begin house hunting. And new parents often want to make the process run as smoothly as possible, which means easy closing.

Deck Your Halls and Prepare to List Your Home

While winter is cold, it doesn’t mean the market is too. If you’ve considered listing your home in the near future, it’s time to take the next step.

If you have questions about the current market or how to prepare your house to hit the market, please give me a call. I’ll brave the snow and ice to help you sell your home this winter!

Image credit: tab1962 | iStock | Getty Images Plus

How to Know It’s Time to Sell Your Home

Do you find yourself looking at houses online, wondering if it’s time to sell your current home? Do you notice yard signs as your neighbors sell their homes? Or maybe you keep updating your organization system, just to find there’s not enough room for all of your possessions and hobbies. Then the memories you’ve created, and all the love and work you’ve put into it creep into your mind, and your sentimental side takes over. It’s normal to feel hesitant and fret, over when it’s the right time to sell.

You may also have questions about the market, and how to know when it’s the right time to call a realtor.

Well, I’m here to help! I understand that selling your house and looking for a new one can be a hard decision. It can also be a stressful process, especially if you’re having hesitations.

So, what are some signs you’re ready for a new home?

How to Tell It’s Time to Sell Your Home

1. Your Family Is Growing

If your current home is a few bedrooms short, your space will continue to feel too tight as your family grows. And why not expand your family into a new space you can grow into?

Maybe your kids are ready for a bigger backyard or a neighborhood with a few more amenities. Make that dream come true with a new home.

Your house isn’t going to magically get bigger and neither is your yard. But there’s likely a budding family that would love the space your current home offers.

2. Your Home Doesn’t Fit Your Current Needs

Maybe it’s time to downsize, or you want room for a workshop or crafting. If you keep thinking of the what-ifs, and find your home falls short time and time again, you may have the validation you need that it’s okay to move on.

It may be time to explore houses on the market, and see if there are homes that better suit your needs.

3. Your Neighborhood Is No Longer Perfect for You

Neighborhoods change, and so do homeowners. If your neighborhood lacks what you want out of where you call “home,” then let’s look at different neighborhoods that may better meet your needs. Originally, the longer commute to work may have been worth the home of your dreams, but you’re finding you miss having more time and freedom.
Maybe your school zone has changed, or you just want your children to be zoned for a different school, it may be time to look into other options.

4. You’ve Wondered How You Can Use Your Equity to Your Advantage

The market has been doing well lately. You’ve likely accrued equity that can benefit you in hunting for a home better suited to your needs. I can answer questions you may have about your home’s current value, so you know what equity you can use moving forward.

5. You Have Imagined the Selling Process

One thing I hear time and time again is that a seller contemplated selling for months, even years before deciding to call. Fear of the process sometimes keeps them from making the leap. If you bought your home years, or even decades, ago, the process has changed and become easier for sellers. You don’t have to worry about pressure to sell, or waiting by the phone for calls about showings. Apps and easy communication make the process simpler than it’s ever been.

From Selling to Sold: Is It the Right Time?

If you are on the fence, or you simply have questions about the selling process, feel free to call, text or email me. Your home is more than just another house on the market, you want to choose a realtor that understands your needs. I can address your concerns and talk you through what the process is like, and even send you a few homes that meet your needs.

There’s no need to hesitate or question if it’s time to sell. Let’s go over your options, and make the best decision based on your situation.

Image credit: iStock / Getty Images Plus / Vasyl Dolmatov

5 Financial Motives to Sell Your Home

Because we all have assorted house wants and needs, at different phases in our lives, there is no standard time as to when you should list your home for sale. However, if selling your home is a good financial decision, then you might want to contemplate a move. Read our five economic-based motives for selling your home. If it makes money sense to sell your home, now might just be the right time for you to relocate.

1) You don’t want the financial responsibility of owning a home.

Owning a home is the American dream — or is it? Perhaps you’ve recently had a change in career, employment status, or your children have moved out. Maybe you’d like to reap the benefits of the equity you’ve built up over time. Some people choose to invest their available cash in other areas. Perceptions on home ownership can vary over time, and just because home ownership was the right decision at one point in your life, maybe now it financially makes sense to sell.

2) Your large home is costing you unnecessary expenses.

Perhaps your sprawling home was just the right size when your kids lived with you. Everyone had room to spread out and enjoy their own space. However, maybe you’re feeling less comfortable lately roaming around in all those empty rooms that are costing you big bucks. You’re paying to heat and cool unused rooms, as well as forking out dollars for real estate taxes, home repairs, and maintenance on a large home that you don’t even need anymore. Why not sell your big home and move to a smaller, more cost-friendly abode? A smaller, cozier place with less rooms, fewer repairs, and a manageable yard might better suit your current lifestyle needs and monthly budget.

3) You want to take advantage of low interest rates.

If you’ve been wanting to make a move from your current house, but felt trapped because of high interest rates on home loans, take the plunge when mortgage interest rates drop significantly. By taking advantage of lower interest rates on mortgage loans, you’ll be able to afford a higher-priced home, should you desire to do so. Perhaps you want to move to a smaller, less-expensive home. Again, low interest rates dictate a great time to downsize as well. Whether you buy a higher-priced home or a less costly one, you’ll shell out less money in mortgage interest, throughout the length of your loan, which equals more cash in your pocket.

4) Your home’s equity has grown.

Sometimes it doesn’t take decades to build a sizable amount of equity in your home. It could be that you moved into the least expensive home in a fast-growing, sought-after neighborhood and suddenly your home equity has soared within a few years or even months. Alternatively, maybe you’ve lived in your home for several years and watched the equity build over time, or perhaps you’ve even paid off your entire mortgage loan. Whatever the case, if you’ve been thinking about moving, and the equity in your home has grown to a dollar amount that suits you, it could be a great time to place your home on the market and reap the financial rewards.

5) You’ll soon be living off your retirement income.

Retirement means lots of things to different people. Whether you’re looking forward to spending more time traveling, visiting family, or just playing :), your current home may not work with your retirement lifestyle and/or budget. Unless your home is mortgage-free, you might consider downsizing to a less-costly, low maintenance condo or town-home. You can save on your monthly mortgage, required maintenance, utility costs, and homeowner’s insurance, but you’ll still need to budget for some association dues. Is now the time to list your home and get on with your retirement plans?

Because your home is often your most valuable asset, it’s necessary to periodically re-evaluate its financial picture. After reading this article, does it make financial sense to sell your current home? Take advantage of any sound financial motives you have to sell your home. If you’ve decided it’s a good budget decision to sell your home, complete our form for a free, no obligation analysis of your home. You’ll be prepared with all the information you need to move forward…..what are you waiting for?

Image credit: Getty Images/ktsimage

Your Home: Live In It or Leave It?

Should I Stay or Should I Go? Was “The Clash” singing about your home??? Now get that song out of your head, and if you’re under 30, just disregard. And before you go on an 80’s YouTube music video bender, focus and finish reading this helpful article first! 🙂

It’s an age-old question that many homeowners have faced: Renovate the home you live in but don’t exactly love anymore, or leave it for a new home? There’s even an HGTV show based entirely on this premise. It’s not an easy choice.

If it’s a choice you find yourself facing, keep in mind that there are some very important things to consider.

You can only change so much

If you’ve become dissatisfied with a home because of dated décor or a few maintenance issues, those are easy fixes. Paint can go a long way in sprucing a place up. New floor coverings and window treatments are quick and can be inexpensive. Even a house that needs a new furnace or roof, isn’t the end of the world.

But some things aren’t as easy to change. If you have a family that’s grown, keep in mind that it’s very difficult to change the size of a home. Adding square footage means full-room additions that are massive undertakings and can be quite expensive. Sometimes, families just need bigger houses.

You can’t fix a neighborhood

Also, regarding change, you can fix up most houses, but you can’t fix an entire neighborhood. If you’ve realized that you don’t love your house as much as you once did, but still DO love the neighborhood, it can be quite a conundrum.

What happens if you can’t find another great home for sale in your own neighborhood? If you still choose to sell your home, rather than spend the money to renovate, you have to make sure you find a neighborhood that makes you happy. That means considering things such as schools, crime rates, amenities, public services, and maybe even a new commute time to work. All of these items carry weight.

Consider all the financial costs

When getting prices on renovating, it’s tempting to say, “Well, for that price, we may as well just move.” But it’s important to consider all costs associated with both continuing to live in a home and leaving it.

A major remodel could certainly be expensive. If you choose to remain in the home, maybe it’s really going to cost you. But putting that home up for sale and buying a new one has costs, too – beyond just the purchase price of the new home.

Hiring a moving company to move into the new home will cost you money. And unless your new home is completely turn-key, you might even wind up spending money on improvement projects there as well.

Now, even with all those costs, it still might make more sense to move, rather than to renovate. Just make sure you calculate ALL the costs.

Think function, not just form

People who do renovation projects tend to focus on cosmetic things they don’t like about their home. But remember, any modern countertops, light fixtures, floors, etc. you put in, will eventually become dated as well. So, when considering a renovation, think about not just making your home look better, but also to function better.

Maybe you need more counter space. Maybe your kids’ bathroom could use dual sinks. Could the laundry room be bigger, or have more storage? Could your entryways become more practical, with drop zones or mudrooms? What can you change in the home, that won’t just make you happier with its looks, but will also make living in it more pleasant for you each and every day?

Again, the choice between staying and fixing, or listing and leaving, is one that a majority of homeowners will face at some point in their life. There’s often not a clear right or wrong answer. It’s a personal, individual decision. If you are at that decision making point, get in touch with us. We’ll help you come to an informed resolution, so can feel confident with either decision!

Photo credit: Getty images/marchmeena29

For a home to sell for a million dollars, it needs to look and show like a million dollar home to the buyer. A qualified and experienced real estate agent can help accomplish this goal, but that’s just the first step. Homeowners need to stage a home just right. Even a seemingly simple mistake can sharply reduce the price of a sale, or even prevent someone from making an offer at all. Here are six common mistakes homeowners should be aware of, before putting a home on the market.

1 – Not Factoring in Time for Tradesmen

Electricians, carpenters, plumbers, roofers, and other trades professionals need time to do a quality job. Therefore, make sure to book estimates as soon as possible. Get a clear timeline and schedule. Don’t forget to include the time for painting, drywall, trim, or any other tasks needed to complete a job.

By doing so, the realtor will have a clear idea of when the home will be show-room ready. It will also make it possible to schedule other tasks, such as yard maintenance and upkeep. By coordinating everything this way, it’s possible to complete all the work at the same time, and have your home ready to go on the market sooner.

2 – Not Updating Old Carpet, Fixtures, Faucets, and Other Details

Replacing an old worn carpet, dated light fixtures, or yellowed switch plates can seem like a hassle, especially when there are so many other things to do. However, these seemingly insignificant details can have an enormous impact on the look and feel of a room, as well as the entire home. Fixing these issues doesn’t have to be expensive either. Area rugs, light fixtures, and faucets can be found affordable, and much better than worn or outdated pieces.

3 – Not Paying Attention to the Yard

How a home looks on the outside, can determine how much buyers want to take a look on the inside. Small tasks, such as cutting the lawn, spraying the weeds, and trimming bushes can help out quite a bit. Sweep patios and fill any planters with lush flowers. For a little extra wow factor, go the extra mile with details, like a diagonally-cut and edged lawn, to show potential buyers that the home has been well loved and maintained.

4 – Making a Space Too Overwhelming

Lime green walls and ceilings with black, pink, and white everywhere may look amazing at the moment, but potential buyers might not have the same opinion. Therefore, make sure a room doesn’t make potential buyers feel overwhelmed. Each room should be welcoming, have a single purpose, and spark a visitor’s imagination. Potential buyers should fall in love with a room, without being hypnotized by it.

5 – Not Making a Room Interesting Enough

Sometimes, homeowners worry so much about a room being overwhelming, that they take all the interest out of it. The result can be just another bland room that blends in with all the others. Therefore, make sure there’s something of interest in each space.

Professional decorators often use a 60-30-10 rule. This means 60 percent of a room should be a neutral or base shade. The secondary color should make up 30 percent of the room, and 10 percent of a space should be in an accent color. If the accent color has been added using easy-to-change items like glassware and pillows, the potential buyer won’t have to work hard to change it.

6 – Not Knowing the Target Audience

Generally speaking, an older couple that’s ready to retire, may not be as interested in modern, trendy decor as a young professional looking for a home. And the more buyers have to change or imagine, the less likely they’ll be to put in a higher offer. Therefore, it’s important to know who will be most likely to buy a home, before staging it.

To find out, consider neighbors who have recently moved into the neighborhood. Ask a real estate agent about who would be most likely to purchase the house. Then find out what preferences these groups of buyers might have.

Staging a home incorrectly, could mean the difference between selling a house and having it sit on the market for months. Therefore, it’s essential to stage them right, as soon as possible. A little bit of work and slight discomfort up front, will be worth the extra money going into your bank account at the closing table.

Photo credit: Getty Images/krblokhin

Category: Selling Your Home