Real Estate Information Archive

1. Toss the Trash We often become “clutter blind” to things that collect in our homes. If you have mail waiting to be sorted, handled, and discarded, magazines and newspapers you intended to read (but probably won’t), and things that need to be recycled, donated, or thrown away, do that now. Go through every room in your house with a garbage bag and a donation bag. (Be sure to shred any sensitive documents so this information doesn’t fall into the wrong hands!)

 2. Pare Down Furniture If you have rooms overstuffed with furniture, they’ll appear too small and unwelcoming to potential buyers. Eliminate all unessential furniture and any upholstered items that are threadbare or excessively worn. It’s better to have less and use your best pieces to stage your home.

3. Depersonalize Your home probably contains your favorite collections, cherished photographs, children’s artwork, postcards, and memorabilia. These items should be placed in specially marked boxes and tucked away for your move or to give to family members. This will help potential buyers imagine how the home will look with their items.

4. Clear the Surfaces Look at every flat surface in your home. Things tend to collect on countertops, tables, and shelves, making a home look crowded and giving buyers the impression there’s no room for their life to unfold in this space. If a surface has more than a single decorative item (or a related grouping of three things), it’s too “busy” to be inviting to a potential buyer.

5. Unstuff the Closets Before listing your home, every closet should appear spacious and airy. Crowded closets look too small to use. In bedrooms, remove everything except for the in-season clothes you often wear and enjoy most. Everything else should be packed up or donated. Linen closets should be organized with a maximum of two fresh changes of sheets and pillowcases for each bed. Keep only your nicest towels and washcloths. Retire the ratty ones to the rag box. The hall closet should hold jackets and coats for the current season and have enough room to accept visitors’ coats.

For more a free consultation or more information call:  Greater Boston Realty 617-469-4040

Here are several reasons why choosing to sell your home now may be a better decision than waiting until the spring:

Less Competition

One way that you can tell the spring real estate market has arrived is by driving down a street in your local community. In all likelihood there will be For Sale signs up all over the neighborhood! One great reason to sell your home now and not wait until the spring market is there is sure to be less competition.  The fewer number of comparable homes for sale, the greater the probability that a buyer will look at your home.

Simply put, it’s the supply and demand theory. If there are less homes for sale, there are less homes that a potential buyer can choose from, therefore increasing the demand for your home. Not only will less competition increase the probability for showings, but it will also increase the probability that an offer will be received and you will get the maximum amount of money for your home.

Serious Buyers Are Out There

Homes are sold and bought 365 days a year, period!  Many homeowners believe that buyers aren't out there during the fall and winter months. This simply is not the case. Serious buyers are always out there!  Some buyers may stop their home search because it is the fall or winter, but serious buyers will continue to look at homes, no matter what time of year it is.

The fall and winter months are also a great time for a potential buyer to see what a specific neighborhood is like.  Do your neighbors have pumpkins on their front step?  Are there lots of Trick-or-Treaters wandering the neighborhood on Halloween?  Do any of your neighbors have any light displays for the holidays?  There are buyers out there who will look at these types of things when determining whether your home is in the right neighborhood for them or not.

The Best Agents Are Always Up To The Challenge 

Any real estate agent who tells you that the fall or winter months are a bad time to sell is not someone you want selling your home! A great real estate agent will know how to adapt to the current season and market their listings to reflect that.  A great real estate agent can make suggestions and give some of their tips on how to sell a home during the fall or winter seasons. If a real estate agent doesn't have any suggestions on making your home more desirable for the current season, you should be concerned about the creativity they are going to use when marketing your home.

Staging For The Holiday Season

Many sellers believe staging a home is the main reason a home sells.  While staging certainly helps sell homes, some buyers have a difficult time envisioning themselves in a home no matter what you do. However, there are some buyers who can easily be "sold" on a home because it is staged.  Simple “seasonal” staging such as adjusting the color of the decor or having an aroma in the air that is relative to the time of year can go a long way with some potential buyers and possibly be the difference between a home selling or not.

Quicker Transactions

Right now, there are fewer real estate transactions than there will be in the spring.  The fewer number of transactions means the mortgage lenders have less loans to process, attorneys have less closings to do, and home inspectors have fewer inspections to do.  All of these factors should lead to a quicker transaction and closing for all the parties involved.  One of the most frustrating things for a seller to deal with while selling their home is not getting answers in a reasonable amount of time. A quicker transaction is going to be less stress for you.

By considering all of the reasons above, you will be able to determine whether now is a good time to sell or if you should wait until the spring.

For more information or a free consultation call Alisa Coyle at Greater Boston Realty 617-347-5589.