The Secret To Selling This Spring: Start the Prep Work Now BLOG February 13, 2025
The Secret To Selling This Spring: Start the Prep Work Now Spring is the busiest season in the housing market. It’s the time of year when buyers are most active – that means it’s when homes sell faster and for top dollar. If you’ve already got a move on your mind, why not list this spring and take advantage of the added buyer demand? Since spring is just around the corner, now’s the time to start getting your house market-ready. You’ve got just over a month to do the prep work. And while that may sound like a decent amount of time, it’s going to go by quickly. And you won’t want to rush through this important task – especially this year. The Right Repairs Will Matter More This Spring Right now, two things are true. There are more homes on the market than there have been in years. And buyers are being extra selective. That combination means you need to invest some time and effort in making strategic repairs. And many homeowners already have a jump on this work. In the 2025 Outlook for Home Remodeling, Carlos Martin, Director of the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, explains: “. . . homeowners are slowly but surely expanding the pace and scope of projects compared to the last couple years.” And the most common projects they’re tackling are replacing water heaters, HVAC units, and flooring. Energy efficiency is a key consideration too, based on home improvement data from the Census. What To Prioritize as You Plan Ahead But just because that’s what other homeowners are doing, it doesn’t mean that’s what you have to tackle. Think about what you’d want to see if you were a buyer. Focus on quick wins that are easy to knock out with the time you have – but, don’t ignore key repairs, especially ones you think could turn off buyers. While big-ticket items like replacing an old roof or outdated flooring may seem daunting, they can pay off – especially if you focus on projects with the best return on investment (ROI). An agent’s expertise is key in narrowing down your list to what’s actually worth it. They know what buyers in your area want and they also have data like this report from Zonda to guide you on which updates have the best ROI (see green in the graph below): That’s why it’s so important to talk to a local real estate agent before you dive into any repairs. Bankrate puts it best: “As a seller, it’s smart to be prepared and control whatever factors you’re able to. Things like hiring a great real estate agent and maximizing your home’s online appeal can translate into a smoother sale — and more money in the bank.” It’s not too early to partner with an agent. By starting now, you’ve still got time to space out the work and find any contractors you need to get the job done. If you wait until spring to roll up your sleeves, you risk running out of time – and that means your house may be overshadowed by others who are more buyer-ready. Bottom Line If you’re planning to sell this spring, it’s time to start tackling your to-do list. But, before you get started, let’s connect. That way you can make sure you’re spending your time and budget on projects that’ll pay off in the long run. Send me a list of what’s on your to-do list, and we can prioritize them together.
Buying a Home May Help Shield You from Inflation
Buying a Home May Help Shield You from Inflation It feels like everything is getting more expensive these days. That’s because inflation has remained higher than normal for longer than expected – and that’s impacting the costs of goods, services, and more. And with rising costs all around you, you’re probably questioning: is now really the right time to buy a home? Here’s the good news. Owning a home is actually one of the best ways to protect yourself from the rising costs that come with inflation. A Fixed Mortgage Protects You from Rising Housing Costs One of the key benefits of homeownership is that when you buy a home with a fixed-rate mortgage, your biggest monthly expense — your mortgage payment — stabilizes. Sure, your payment could rise slightly as your homeowner’s insurance and property taxes shift. But no matter what happens with inflation, your principal and interest payments won’t change. That’s not the case if you rent. Rent tends to rise over time, and it usually goes up even faster than the rate of inflation. Just look at the data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) and the Census Bureau (see graph below): So, while renters face higher costs year after year, homeowners with a fixed mortgage rate lock in their monthly payments, making it easier to budget no matter what happens with inflation. Home Prices Typically Rise Faster Than Inflation Another big reason homeownership is a great hedge against inflation is that home values tend to appreciate over time — often at a higher rate than inflation, according to data from the BEA and Fannie Mae (see graph below): That makes real estate one of the strongest long-term investments during times of rising prices. While inflation can chip away at the value of cash savings, real estate typically holds or grows in value, allowing you to build wealth. On the other hand, renting offers no protection against inflation. In fact, it does the opposite — when inflation drives up costs, landlords often pass those increases onto tenants through higher rents. That means as a renter, you’re continually paying more without gaining any financial benefit. But as a homeowner, rising prices work in your favor by increasing the value of your home and growing your equity over time. And with experts forecasting continued home price growth, that means you’re making an investment that usually grows in value and should outperform inflation in the years ahead. In short, a fixed-rate mortgage protects your budget, and home price appreciation grows your net worth. That’s why homeownership is a strong hedge against inflation. Bottom Line Inflation can make everyday expenses unpredictable, but owning a home gives you stability. Unlike rent, your monthly mortgage payment stays pretty much the same over time. Plus, the value of your home is likely to increase after you buy. How would having a fixed housing payment change the way you budget for the future?
Are You Asking Yourself These Questions About Selling Your House?
Are You Asking Yourself These Questions About Selling Your House? Some homeowners hesitate to sell because they’ve got unanswered questions that hold them back. But a lot of times their concerns are based on misconceptions, not facts. And if they’d just talk to an agent about it, they’d see these doubts aren’t necessarily a hurdle at all. If uncertainty is keeping you from making a move, it’s time to get the real answers. The ones you deserve. And to take the pressure off, you don’t have to ask the questions, because here’s the data that answers them. 1. Is It Even a Good Idea To Move Right Now? If you own a home already, you may be tempted to wait because you don’t want to sell and take on a higher mortgage rate on your next house. But your move may be a lot more feasible than you think, and that’s because of how much your house has likely grown in value. Think about it. Do you know anyone in your neighborhood who’s sold their house recently? If so, did you hear what it sold for? With how much home values have gone up in recent years, the number may surprise you. According to Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the typical homeowner has gained $147,000 in housing wealth in the last five years alone. That’s significant – and when you sell, that can give you what you need to fund your next move. 2. Will I Be Able To Find a Home I Like? If this is on your mind, it’s probably because you remember just how hard it was to find a home over the past few years. But in today’s market, it isn’t as challenging. Data from Realtor.com shows how much inventory has increased – it's up nearly 25% compared to this time last year (see graph below): Even though inventory is still below more normal pre-pandemic levels, it’s improved a lot in the past year. And the best part is, experts say it’ll grow another 10 to 15% this year. That means you have more options for your move – and the best chance in years to find a home you love. 3. Are Buyers Still Buying? And last, if you’re worried no one’s buying with rates and prices where they are right now, here’s some perspective that can help. While there weren’t as many home sales last year as there’d be in a normal market, roughly 4.24 million homes still sold (not including new construction), according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). And the expectation is that number will rise in 2025. But even if we only match how many homes sold last year, here’s what that looks like. 4.24 million homes ÷ 365 days in a year = 11,616 homes sell each day 11,616 homes ÷ 24 hours in a day = 484 homes sell per hour 484 homes ÷ 60 minutes = 8 homes sell every minute Think about that. Just in the time it took you to read this, 8 homes sold. Let this reassure you – the market isn’t at a standstill. Every day, thousands of people buy, and they're looking for homes like yours. Bottom Line When you’re ready to walk through what’s on your mind, I have the answers you need. And in the meantime, tell me: what’s holding you back from making your move?
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