Home Selling Archives - Page 3 of 12

February 15, 2023June 18, 2024

Get Ready for a Busy Spring 2023 Real Estate Market

Key Takeaways:

The spring real estate market is going to be busy
Lower mortgage rates mean increased competition
Get ready to succeed this spring—contact us today!

The spring real estate market starts to shake things up after the quieter winter season, and this year is no exception. With mortgage rates cooling off from last year’s highs, the spring 2023 real estate market indicates that there will be plenty of homebuying and selling activity—and it’s starting early. So let’s take a look at what you can expect and how you can work with our team to help you find success and get into your next home.

Mortgage rates are trending lower

The good news for homeowners and potential homebuyers is that mortgage rates have reached their highest point and are now heading south toward a more comfortable rate. According to Forbes, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) anticipates that the 30-year mortgage rate will be near 5.2% by the end of 2023, over one percentage point lower than their current level.

The decrease in rates comes as NAR’s Senior Economist Nadia Evangelou indicates that inflation should continue to subside, which would result in mortgage rates dropping even further. An expected reduction of this magnitude could save those with mortgages or looking to buy considerable amounts of money over time, making it an exciting opportunity for those in the market for new housing.

Expect an increase in homebuying activity during Spring

With mortgage rates decreasing, the National Association of Home Builders expects increased demand and more buyers returning to the market. Plus, more inventory on the market could further encourage potential buyers. Open houses are seeing more interest, with multiple bids surfacing after a prolonged lull. These are encouraging signs, indicating that an influx of new properties on the market could spark increased enthusiasm among eager homebuyers who’ve been waiting on the sidelines for some time now.

Once those buyers enter the market, they will attract new sellers and fill out the housing inventory available on the market. (Tight inventory was one of the defining issues of last year’s housing market, but there will be more to choose from this year during a busy spring season.) And, once those sellers turn around and buy, you’ll see the fast-paced, exciting spring real estate market we all know and love is in full bloom.

Look for deals on new construction homes

Two business man professional engineer worker at the house building, happy feeling.

America’s homebuilders are showing positive signs of growth as the demand for new houses rises alongside dropping mortgage rates. According to the National Association of Home Builders, sentiment among builders has increased for the first time in a year, with reports of increases in sales, traffic, and expectations for sales over the next six months. This surge in confidence and activity is influenced mainly by low interest rates, which is driving more homebuyers into the market.

According to Zillow, the number of new homes currently under construction has risen 50% since February 2020. And newly complete homes are showing up on the market quickly, meaning there’s plenty for homebuyers to choose from. Our team will help you expertly work with builders to find special offers and incentives to get you into one of those gorgeous new homes!

Hop Into the Spring Market With Us

Are you ready for the 2023 spring real estate market? We are! There’s so much to consider, from mortgage rates to inventory and new construction homes. Buyers and sellers alike are eager to get things in full swing, so contact our team now so we can start building your ideal real estate strategy and take action. Spring is just around the corner—reach out today!

Get ready to sell by increasing your curb appeal.

February 1, 2023June 18, 2024

How to Get Your Home Ready to Sell in 2023

Key Takeaways:

Sell your home faster with these easy repair and design tips
Minor improvements can make a big difference
Contact us to sell your home for top dollar in 2023

Thinking about selling your home in 2023? Your property’s interior and exterior look and feel have a direct impact on the final sale price of your home. Investing in minor improvements such as paint, flooring, or furniture creates an inviting atmosphere and draws potential buyers. Before you list your home, try these proven tips to help get you every penny your home is worth!

Remove extra clutter in your home

Realtor is giving the keys to a home to clients.

A home free of clutter can help potential buyers see the true beauty in your space. Not only does removing the clutter make viewing easier, but a clean room shows that you take care of your home. Removing items blocking walkways or other essential areas allows buyers to better imagine their furniture and possessions in each room. Decluttering also helps you keep organized as you move out, simplifying the packing process. Don’t let unnecessary objects get in the way of potential buyers seeing how great your space is!

A fresh coat of paint goes a long way

Neutral colors make a home appear clean, open, and inviting, so painting the walls in a neutral shade is a must for anyone getting ready to sell their property. Neutral colors help buyers envision the space as their own – allowing them to mentally plan how they’ll use the rooms in their new home. Plain colors can also make furniture and other decorations stand out, so they don’t have to worry about adjusting pieces to match what was already on the walls. Utilizing neutral colors will give potential buyers an idea of how a room would look if decorated with their own style and personality.

Entice homebuyers as soon as they arrive

Beautiful, Newly Built Luxury Home Exterior

Increasing your home’s curb appeal is an easy and satisfying way to give your living space a fresh look. By tidying up the yard and enhancing the house’s exterior, you can create an inviting atmosphere that potential buyers will love coming home to. Taking care of the lawn can be as simple as mowing regularly or adding potted plants and foliage that match your decor style. Paying extra attention to specific details, like painting the front door, can help your property stand out nicely. An easy and inexpensive option to add instant curb appeal is to have your house power-washed. With just a little effort, you can craft a stunning outdoor environment that will draw admirers far and wide.

Let’s Discuss Your Real Estate Goals

If you’re thinking about selling your home in 2023, right now is the best time to start getting ready. Contact our team to discuss your real estate goals so we can help you build a smart strategy for selling. Our team has the local experience you need and backs our advice with the latest market data for your neighborhood to help you get top dollar for your home!

Check out our seasonal tips for selling in 2023.

December 15, 2022June 18, 2024

Why the Holidays Are an Excellent Time to Sell Your House

Key Takeaways:

Less competition and holiday decor make your home stand out.
Serious buyers and fast closings make for a merry sale.
With the year coming to a close, contact us today to get started!

Believe it or not, the holidays are a wonderful time to sell your home! People are in warm spirits, and there is typically less competition from other sellers during the holidays, so your house is more likely to stand out. So if you’re considering selling your house, the holidays may be the perfect time to do it!

Holiday cheer extends to homebuyers

Home with a bow in front of a holiday tree.

During the holidays, people are out shopping—for homes! Yes, homebuyers take advantage of the festive atmosphere to research options and kickstart their house-hunting journey. With offers of holiday cheer in the air, many buyers feel more confident taking the plunge and seriously making offers on potential homes. Beyond being a season of merriment, the holidays have become a time for serious house hunters to jump into the market.

With less competition, your home shines bright

During the holidays, sellers can enjoy a unique advantage over their competition. With fewer houses listed on the market, those for sale tend to see busy open houses bustling with would-be buyers. That’s why when you list your home during the holiday season, your house has a better chance of standing out to potential buyers and moving off the market as quickly as possible.

Offers made during the holidays are serious

Buyers during this time of year tend to be more serious about making an offer, so you’re more likely to get an offer – and close the deal! By taking advantage of the housing market at this time of year, you’re capturing demand during the seasonal rush. The holidays could be the perfect opportunity to sell your home quickly and for top dollar.

Holiday decorations are perfect for staging your home

Decorating for the holidays can give your house that extra bit of charm and make it more appealing to potential buyers. Decorating with subtlety is key: hanging up bold red and green decorations or festively-themed banners might be a little too much for some viewers. Instead, go for tasteful touches like wreaths, string lights, and pine garlands in doorways and window ledges to bring alive the holiday spirit while not overwhelming buyers. This way, you’ll create an inviting atmosphere in your home that will make it stand out from competitors in the market.

Get the Gift You Want

The holidays are the perfect time to sell your home and get top dollar. With less competition and serious buyers, plus some cheer thrown in for good measure, now is the time to move quickly. Selling during the holidays can be a great way to start the new year in your new home. Our experienced real estate team can help, so contact us today to get started!

Read our article about selling in other seasons, as well.

December 1, 2022June 18, 2024

Why Now Is a Good Time to Enter the Housing Market

Key Takeaways:

Low default rates are a positive sign of the housing market’s resiliency
There are signals that the market is shifting to favor homebuyers
Our team is ready to help you achieve your goals, so contact us today!

As with any investment, the best time to enter the housing market is when prices are low. It’s no different when it comes to real estate. With one historic and unprecedented event after another these days, knowing when to move in today’s market can be complicated and intimidating, but it doesn’t need to be.

Analysts agree about where the market is likely headed. So as 2022 winds down, let’s review the latest news to help you better understand where your opportunity lies (and why now may actually be the best time to buy!).

Low loan defaults are keeping the housing market healthy

Portrait Of Happy Family Showing Key, Standing In Living Room.

The current housing market is not a repeat of the previous financial crisis in 2008. The two primary factors that contributed to the housing market crash back then were cheap credit and lax lending standards. Remember the terms subprime, mortgage-backed securities, CDOs, and adjustable rate mortgage? Thankfully, that’s not what’s making headlines this time around.

Today, lending standards are more strict than they were 15 years ago, and because of this, most homeowners are not teetering on loan default like they were back in 2008. In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, banks introduced various programs to help homeowners stay current on their mortgages and avoid default. The result is historic mortgage balance lows, with loans that are 90 days past due pegged at just 0.5%. That’s a far cry from the staggering 11.36% rate back in 2010 when homeowners struggled to make payments.

Economic signals indicate this is becoming a buyer’s market

real estate agent Delivering sample homes to customers, mortgage loan contracts. Make a contract for hire purchase and sale of a house. and home insurance contracts, home mortgage loan concepts

Putting today’s housing market in proper historical context is paramount to making an informed decision. While the current 7% mortgage interest rates are certainly higher than the pandemic-induced low of 2.65% in December 2020 (the lowest in history!), that doesn’t mean you should avoid buying a home. Compared to the all-time high of 18.45% set back in 1981, today’s average rate of 7% is suddenly far less imposing.

Experts all agree: home equities are going to decline. The only dispute between analysts is by how much, with some analysts projecting an average decline of about 20%. According to Black Knight, a mortgage technology and data provider, home prices have declined slightly, but mortgage holders possess $11.5 trillion in tappable equity.

Even though recent news and numbers seem to suggest that the real estate market may be experiencing a slowdown, Black Knight added that the “market is on strong footing to weather a correction” given that the total market leverage (including both first and second liens) was just 42% of mortgaged homes’ values – the lowest number on record.

Homes are always a solid investment strategy

Eager would-be homebuyers waiting for home prices to enter the housing market to fall have some good news ahead of them. But, homeowners have good news, too. While there’s plenty of panic around a “decline” in home prices, the Case-Shiller Index reports it’s just 2.2%—meaning homeowners are still in command of a 38.33% increase in the last two years.

With mortgage interest rates hovering around 7% and home values stabilizing, the tail-end of 2022 or 2023 may be the best time for you to finally make that move, especially as two-thirds of major regional housing markets (98 out of 148) prices continue to drop.

We’ll Help You Buy For the Right Price

When you’re ready to make your move, reach out and contact our trusted real estate team. We know the local housing market and can help guide you to the best deals available on the market today. And, there’s plenty of ways to extend your buying power and reduce your interest rates! Our team can’t wait to share our proven strategies with you, so contact us today!

Entering the market as a first-time buyer.

October 15, 2022June 18, 2024

Top 3 Staging Tips To Sell Your Home Faster

Key Takeaways:

Staging showcases a home’s best assets, and helps sell it for top dollar.
You’ll be at an advantage if you take the extra step of staging your property.
This is a great time to plan for the future of your home, so contact us today!

First impressions matter. When you finally put your house on the market, you’ll want to pay special attention to how you stage your property.

Staging is a real estate term that means how a house looks. Good staging helps buyers imagine themselves in the home. It shows off the property’s good features, hides its flaws, turns unconventional spaces into usable spaces, creates a mood, and makes the house look significantly better in photos.

Let’s look at why staging is necessary. Read on for some of the staging steps to ensure you get top dollar for your home!

Why staging your home matters

Potential buyers aren’t just looking for a structure to inhabit – they’re also looking for a way to fulfill their dreams. If done well, staging allows buyers to imagine themselves already living in the property. It can create a more emotional sale for the buyer, generating more money for the seller.

Potential buyers don’t want to see work they will have to do upon moving into the home. For every problem they see, they will want to deduct its cost from the offering price. If too many issues get noticed, they may even pass on the home entirely.

Before they step foot into a home, prospective buyers spend hours looking at pictures of their potential new homes on the internet.

How your home looks, inside and out, is arguably the most crucial feature of your home. If it doesn’t look good, potential buyers will continue their search and keep clicking. Proper staging gets them to stop. They will envision how the house might look once they move into it, making it look more move-in ready.

Essential home staging according to the experts

Painting your home to sell for higher price.

According to the 2021 Profile of Home Staging, a National Association of Realtors (NAR) report, 82% of buyer’s agents said that staging makes it easier for buyers to visualize a property as their future home, which can help the home get top dollar and sell faster. The report also found that staging the living room was very important to 46% of buyers, followed by the primary bedroom at 43% and the kitchen at 35%.

Before you give in to the temptation to think that staging your home will cost you thousands of dollars, let’s take a quick look at a few of the most cost-effective and simplest staging steps to help your home sell for top dollar more quickly.

Keep it clean

A clean home shows potential buyers that you’ve taken good care of the property. Ideally, you should clean every part of the house, from the floors to the ceilings and everything in between.

If you don’t have new appliances in the kitchen, there’s no need to worry. Just make sure the existing ones are spotless. Likewise, ensure your bathrooms sparkle, from the corners of the tub to the sink drain to that spot behind the toilet you don’t think anyone can see. Your goal should be to make everything look new and hospital clean.

Take care of your clutter

Buyers need to be able to envision themselves in your home, so remove all the family photos, keepsakes, and refrigerator art. Yes, the velvet paintings must come down. Likewise, keep clothes hidden away as much as possible, and make sure the bathroom counters are empty (except for hand soap, of course). Similarly, put away all the toys and anything else that is highly personal to the home’s current inhabitants.

Plants and paint go a long way

A few potted plants can do wonders to make your home feel fresh and inviting to potential buyers. But conversely, if you’ve got a lot of indoor plants, this could create a cluttered feeling, so you’ll want to remove some of them. Additionally, a new coat of paint is a relatively inexpensive and quick home staging step you can take that will pay big returns on closing day.

Work With the Best

If you’re ready to move, work with your local team that knows the micro-housing market trends in your area. Our real estate agents have decades of experience and understand how to help you best navigate today’s market. So don’t hesitate to reach out and say Hello! to figure out your best options for buying or selling your next home!

As staging is to the interior of your home, curb appeal is to the outside.

September 15, 2022August 8, 2024

The Housing Market is a Win for Buyers and Sellers

You might hear a lot of doom and gloom news about the housing market lately, but let’s put it in perspective. The COVID-19 global pandemic caused unprecedented disruptions to financial markets, including housing. Now, with everyone ready to move forward, the historic hot housing market is returning to normal. Let’s look at what that means for buyers and sellers.

Key Takeaways:

Ignore the negative news—the market is coming back down to earth
Homeowners have record equity, and buyers have more inventory
This is a great time to make a move in the market, so contact us today!

The current housing market and forecast

Our last blog post looked at mortgage rates in their historical context. While today’s rates range between 5-6% and are certainly higher than homebuyers’ rates during the COVID-19 pandemic, they’re nothing extraordinary. Today’s rates are still far below the all-time high of 18.45% set back in the 1980s!

A recent report by Fannie Mae forecasts that over the next 12 months, US consumers anticipate home prices to fall for the first time in two years. With potential buyers expecting further price declines and sellers not keen on giving up their lower, fixed mortgage rate, now is the time to buy or sell your home.

However, for first-time homebuyers seeking to make a move, news of continued cooling of home prices is welcome, which will keep demand high. While current homeowners considering selling may be concerned that they missed the window to realize their equity gains or will lose out on their current lower mortgage rate, it’s important to remember the larger historical trends regarding real estate investments. And, if you’re purchasing another home, you have more homes to choose from.

What home sellers need to know right now

Real estate agent handing over keys of new home to young couple. Happy new property owners with estate broker.

Don’t listen to the news cycle pedaling doom and gloom about your equity gains and home value. Buying or selling property is always a good investment. The real estate market always presents opportunities, and home prices are simply moderating from historic highs.

Moreover, homeownership is a long-term asset that pays out over time, and the record equity gains of the past few years that current homeowners have enjoyed aren’t likely to ever happen again. So, while home prices are cooling off, the decline is less than 1%, leaving those equity gains intact when you decide it’s time to sell.

What home buyers need to know right now

CoStar Group, an online real estate analytics provider, recently reported negative growth in asking rental prices for the first time in 20 months, falling 0.1%. While this is undoubtedly welcome news for renters and would-be homeowners battling skyrocketing rental prices, the cost of rent remains a high hurdle for many to clear every month.

For potential homebuyers wondering if now is the time to stop paying rent and move toward homeownership, it’s worth remembering that owning a home will always be a better long-term investment of your money than renting.

So, despite a new Fannie May survey declaring that around half of today’s consumers hold a negative view of the market and think it would be difficult to get a mortgage today, this is overly pessimistic. Moreover, there are numerous loan options for qualifying buyers, such as first-time buyers and veteran programs.

Getting a mortgage is one of the most significant financial moves a person will ever make, and preparation is critical. So before you apply, spend some time ensuring that your credit and finances are in order. Because when you find your perfect home, you’ll want to be able to make an offer immediately.

Take the Next Step

If you’re ready to make a move, don’t get caught up in the frenzy of negative news. Instead, work with your local team that knows the micro-housing market in your area. Our real estate agents have decades of experience and understand how to help you navigate the market. Contact us today to figure out your best options for buying and selling your home!

For more information read our article on Staying Ahead of the Housing Market.

July 15, 2022June 19, 2024

The 2022 Summer Housing Market

Key Takeaways:

There’s a lot to be excited about with this summer’s housing market.
Homes are for sale with the features you want, like swimming pools.
Our team knows how to help get the most for your home – contact us!

Despite news about a looming recession, high mortgage interest rates, and low inventory negatively impacting the housing market, many good things are still happening and worth getting excited about in the 2022 summer housing market.

Some promising news in today’s historic housing market is that home demand remains strong, with well-vetted, qualified buyers making cash offers, creating a more balanced seller’s and buyer’s market. Additionally, home values continue to defy the odds and climb higher with no end in sight, helping your equity gains grow, which creates opportunities to put your equity gains to use that have never been better.

So, let’s take a deeper look at the 2022 summer market trends and help you figure out your next best step!

Upgrade to a home with the summer features you want

Senior neighbors having fun spending sunny summer day together outdoors, having a backyard barbecue party by the swimming pool

Maybe you’ve just returned from vacation, and you miss relaxing by the sea, or perhaps you didn’t go on holiday this year and missed out on getting to spend afternoons poolside or get to the ocean. Or possibly you’ve looked into getting a pool, or some other addition, installed at your home and have encountered supply chain issues. Regardless, there’s no reason to be discouraged.

While housing supply is at record lows, it’s important to remember that historically, summer marks a lull in inventory that gets improved upon by the season’s end. This year is no different, with plenty of updated and newly-built properties available on the market, so it’s a great time to look and see if your ideal property that already has a pool or a pavilion is on the market right now waiting for you.

Real estate is a proven safeguard against recession

Closeup house model over the Sale representative offer the house price list and condition for house purchase or rental on the working space table in new house

A shrinking economy marks a recession. People will spend less money on discretionary purchases, focusing instead on essentials. Companies may slow down hiring or even begin laying off workers to bolster their bottom lines. Stock prices may drop in the face of uncertainty about the economy.

When a recession sets in, the value of your stock portfolio may take a hit if prices drop temporarily. While downturns aren’t ideal, they can create opportunities for savvy real estate investors. If you’re considering investing in real estate during a recession or already own investment property, you need to have a strategy for maximizing your equity gains.

Real estate can offer some stability for investors when the economy slows. Of course, a recession doesn’t automatically cause a drop in home values. But if a recession causes a hot housing market to cool off, that could open up opportunities for you to find your dream property at a discount.

It may seem contradictory to move during these challenging times, but remember, even with higher mortgage interest rates, there are always opportunities, even in the most demanding of seasons. What makes the difference is doing your research, knowing what you want and can afford, and most importantly, working with a capable guide before leaping.

Just remember: As with any real estate purchase, it’s not about right-timing the market but about buying at the right time for your personal goals and finances.

Let’s Talk About Your Real Estate Goals

Whether following local and national trends and guiding you through a shifting market or pricing your house right, a trusted real estate agent has the expertise you’ll want to rely on throughout your next transaction. So if you’ve been considering selling, let’s connect so you can have an expert on your side.

March 1, 2022June 19, 2024

Home Sellers: When Should You Reduce Your Listing Price?

Key Takeaways

Even in a seller’s market, you may still need to reduce your price
Consider if you’ve tried everything else before a price reduction
Make sure to seek the advice of your trusted realtor–we’ve seen it all before!

Even in a competitive seller’s market like the one we’re in right now, listing your home for the right price is key. Don’t count on a bidding war happening to get the price you want! Let’s take a look at what you should do before listing your home, indicators that your home is priced too high, and the strategies you can use to make the price right.

How Do I Figure Out the Right Price?

When home prices are rising quickly, low appraisals can affect your listing price. With year-over-year home prices up 17% on average nationwide in 2021—with some markets seeing as much as 35% increases—the appraisal you receive may not reflect other recent asking prices in your area.

Your experienced real estate agent will use data from the local MLS and consider other homes in your neighborhood and what they sold for recently. They’ll also consider tax data, your property’s previous sale price, and even micro market trends. Working with an agent in such a fluid, dynamic market is essential to getting the price right.

Since your largest pool of buyers often finds your home within the first 21 days of listing, try to list your home at the right price from the start. If you’re not seeing the offers you thought you would, make an adjustment quickly before the initial interest fades away.

If the first week of listing your home isn’t resulting in offers, especially in a market this hot, that’s a red flag your home is overpriced. However, if you’re getting offers, and they just aren’t meeting your listing price, it’s a good sign you’re in line with the market and may need a small decrease.

How Do I Know When to Lower the Price?

Image of a couple working with a real estate agent.

It’s exciting to list your home in such a historic market, but moving too fast and forgetting the basics can hurt your chances of success. Work with your real estate agent to market your home. This includes cleaning and decluttering your home, staging rooms, taking attractive photos, and communicating the value of the property in the listing.

Rely on the most recent data to find the sweet spot for price. You’ll want to consider homes recently sold within a mile or two of your home, especially ones with the same number of bedrooms and bathrooms and square footage within 20% of your home that closed within the last 90 days.

If all of that is said and done and you’re not receiving any offers, you may need to lower the price. Even in a seller’s market, selling over asking or enjoying a bidding war for a higher price is not guaranteed. Make sure you know the lowest price you’re willing to accept before you list your home, so making a change won’t feel like taking a loss.

When it comes to finding the new price, there are a few things to consider. While the general advice is to lower anywhere from 0.5% to upwards of 3%, you also want to pay attention to your price bracket and what buyers are searching for. If lowering your price brings you down from $410,000 to $398,000, that will open up your home to a new pool of buyers searching for homes under $400,000.

Price Your Home Right from the Start

Real estate is a continual learning process, and it takes effort to figure out the right price. That’s why you should work with our experienced, trusted team to get started out right! Contact us today to find the true value of your home based on the most recent, up-to-date, micro-economic data available. Our team is here to help you sell your home for top dollar.

February 15, 2022June 19, 2024

The three most common questions first-time sellers ask our real estate team.

It’s common to be overwhelmed by the number of questions you inevitably run into when you’re selling your home. Does the doorbell work? Are the exterior colors suitable for today’s market? Am I getting what my home is worth? From marketing the house to negotiating a fair market price and making repairs, here are some of the most common questions sellers ask us and some helpful strategies you can utilize when selling your home.

Question 1: How do I know what my home is worth?

Image of a wooden home and a stack of cash representing home value.

Ultimately, a home is worth what someone will pay for it. However, there are three values attributed to any home currently on the market:

What the seller thinks it’s worth.
What the buyer assumes it’s worth.
What a professional appraiser will think it’s worth.

One of the most critical aspects of selling your home is quickly getting those three numbers to align. Most real estate agents freely perform a comparative market analysis of home values to establish a property’s value to determine a selling price. They look at factors such as square footage, construction quality, condition of the home and neighborhood, design, and floor plan, plus all of the neighborhood’s features, like transportation availability, nearby shopping, and area schools.

Question 2: How do I get my home ready to sell?

Image of a couple painting the walls in their home.

Nearly all home purchase contracts include an inspection clause. This term is a buyer contingency that allows buyers to back out of the deal if numerous defects present themselves or negotiate their repair.

The trick to getting your home ready for the market is not to overspend on pre-sale improvements, especially if few houses are on the market with many buyers willing to pay almost any price. On the other hand, making such investments is the only way to stage and sell your house, even in a market that favors sellers.

Here are some quick highlights of expected home improvements and staging tips that every homeowner should have on their checklist going into negotiations:

Make sure that your roof is up-to-date; this will get you the highest return on your investment.
Fix any maintenance issues, such as leaks, plumbing problems, drafts, rusty areas, squeaky floorboards, mold, or mildew well before buyers can find them.
Applying a fresh coat of paint will make rooms look brand-new!
Polishing lighting fixtures and upgrading light bulbs is an inexpensive way to make a home look newer and brighter.
Less clutter helps a home look larger inside, so remove extra objects or furniture to give your home a more spacious feel.

Question 3: How do I pick the right offer on my home?

Image of a woman considering her home selling options with an agent.

While seeing a bid over-asking price will make your heart race, it’s best to take a deep breath and consider the whole picture. Buyers include contingencies, like inspection, financing, and appraisal, in their offers. The fewer contingencies, the better it is for the seller.

You can consider an all-cash offer to eliminate the risk of contingencies. Anywhere from a quarter to a third of home sales now are cash offers, depending on the market, so this is more common than you may think!

What’s your next step after your home sells? The closing timeline can influence choosing your best offer—perhaps you’re in a hurry to move into your new place, or you need some extra time to finish packing. There’s always a lot to consider, and each seller’s needs are different.

The ultimate question: what are my net proceeds?

Because the real estate market is continually changing, and market fluctuations affect property values, your list price, sale price, and closing costs must be based on the most recent comparable sales in your neighborhood. To find out the current value of your home, contact our team today! Selling your home is a team effort that yields more success with the help of the most qualified and skilled realtors.

January 15, 2022June 19, 2024

The Top Color Palettes to Help Sell Your Home in 2022

Key Takeaways:

Even in a seller’s market, it pays more to be mindful of how you present your home—and color is a key component!
This year is all about earthy greens, fun pastel blues and yellows, and smart neutrals to really create a sense of comfort.
Have fun with DIY projects and go hunting for unique antiques to transform traditional rooms into flexible spaces!

Home Buyers Are Searching for Comfort and Versatility

Even though 2022 is predicted to remain a seller’s market, a little effort upfront will go a long way towards closing. You don’t need to do a major renovation to bring modern trends and styles into your home, regardless of its age. Clean, neat, and orderly homes certainly help, but the right color palette can really add some extra oomph.

Here are three of the leading staging trends and top color palettes that can help add value to your home and bring in bids.

Invite the outside in through shades of green

Color palette showing greens and oranges with home decor featuring plants.

After a tumultuous few years, 2022’s trends are focused on self-care and comfort, which are reflected in soothing color schemes. The right colors can bring a sense of belonging into your home. With an overall emphasis on wellness, it’s no surprise that homeowners are falling for hues that are reminiscent of the outdoors.

Earthy, organic palettes provide balance and a breath of fresh air. Green is easy on the eyes, inspiring, and provides a sense of security and belonging. Colorful kitchen cabinets are a relatively quick paint project and very on-trend for 2022. Herbaceous colors such as sage, mint, and thyme tie in perfectly to the gastronomic heart of a home.

Potted plants bring a sense of vitality into a space, and certain varieties help clean the air so prospective buyers will truly breathe easy. To break up the green, try a soft peach or light apricot. They’re calm, straightforward colors that evoke shelter and stability. Bonus: green plants pop when paired with these more subtle shades of orange.

Bright blue and yellow pastels are perfect for flexible spaces

Color palette showing blues and yellows with people working from home.

3 bedrooms, 3 baths and…where’s the office? The classroom? The gym? COVID-19 has changed how we live, work, and play—and what we look for in a home. Gone are the stringent definitions of a room’s purpose according to the blueprint. Extra bedrooms are now learning centers, the dining room is for quality time with friends, and the basement is the best hot yoga studio in town.

With homes becoming more functional spaces, the colors need to be comfortable and calm. Warm, soft yellows add a sense of sunshine to any room. To avoid veering into neon highlighter territory, go for pastel shades of chamomile or buttermilk to bring optimism and cheer without any glare.

The home isn’t quite as intimate as it once was now that we invite everyone from coworkers to teachers into our homes via video call—so now, you can create a space that shows buyers you understand their need to impress. While dark blues are the trademark of the corporate world, lighter hues like mist and sky reign over the residential realm.

Reclaimed materials stand out against strong neutrals

Color palette showing traditional neutrals with reclaimed furniture.

With the world so different from what we’ve previously known, there’s a newfound value in nostalgia. Luckily, second-hand furniture not only evokes warm feelings of remembrance but also ties into the movement to go green.

With supply chain complications still affecting the marketplace, there’s a resurgence of interest in using reclaimed materials as an anchor piece. Many second-hand stores offer refurbished pieces, painting over lackluster patinas with bold color palettes, geometric patterns, or ombre. You can always go the DIY route, too—but with more than enough to do to get your home ready, buying rehabbed pieces is a huge time-saver.

Go with neutrals for the rest of the room to show off a bold find. Beige may sound boring, but it brings connotations of dependability. In these ever-changing times, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to go back to basics once in a while. Plus, with varieties such as ecru, stone, and taupe, there’s nothing basic about this perennial staple.

Use Our Staging Tips for a Top-Dollar Home Sale

It takes thought and effort to bring your home to its full potential, so you can sell at the highest possible price. We’re ready to do a walkthrough and offer suggestions on how you can get prepared to sell. We have the experience and know what buyers want. Contact us today and let us know how we can help prepare your home for a top-dollar sale!