If you're thinking about putting your home on the market, yes, even in the seller's market, there are always things that you can do to make it show a little bit better and make it a little bit more appealing to a larger pool of buyers, and that's always going to help you in the long run. One of the easiest things or the 'more easier' thing to DIY is going to be your outdoor space. Especially as we head into the fall in winter a lot of the competition is not going to be doing a lot to their outdoor space because everything starts to look gray and bed and cold and brown. Today's buyers place a premium on well-kept and well-built-out outdoor space. So especially heading into the fall and winter, it is a great way to put your listing ahead of the pack by making your outdoor space more appealing and approachable. In fact, in 2020, 26% of buyers that were surveyed, said that that outdoor space made a huge difference in them wanting to buy a particular home over another. This can look as simple as putting nicer furniture outside or just staging an area to show that it could be a great firepit or relaxing area in any season. If you're wondering about ways to help make your outdoor space a little bit more appealing, I'd love to come take a look at your home if you're in the Richmond area. Give you an idea of what you can do to make your outdoor space a little bit more appealing to potential buyers make your indoor space a little more appealing to potential buyers and help get you the most return on your investment in your home. Send me a message give me a call or shoot me an email and let's set up a time for me to come take a look at your space and help give you that list of things that you can do to make it a little bit more of a wow in the sometimes a little gloomy or fall in winter markets.

Curious about what the market is doing? Here's what's happening, with a few FAQs, a few stats, and a few predictions. Do you have questions? Reach out to me- I'd love to get you some answers! If you've been waiting for a "crash," I hate to disappoint you. While we're certainly seeing something of a shift, that only means that we are heading towards (hint- we're not there yet) what will likely be a more balanced market. That means things will start getting a little easier for buyers, while still being good for sellers. Wait. What? Well, here's what that means- The definition of a balanced market is one in which the supply and demand are, well, you guessed it- balanced. That means if no other homes were listed, it would take about 6 months to sell through the inventory on the market. Where have we been in the last year+? If you look at this graph, you'll see it's actually been nearly 10 years since we've had a true balanced inventory, but  in the last year or two, we've consistently been under one month of inventory. There have simply not been enough homes to meet demand. (The why of all this is a longer story that I won't get into now.) As of May '22, we're at .9 months, and still very much in a seller's market. Because of the length of time it takes real estate transactions to close, these numbers are often lagging indicators. In other words, the data is generally a little old to really be accurate for the moment. What I can tell you is that anecdotally, here's what we're seeing: We are STILL seeing many multiple offer situations. Just more often there are 4-6 offers, rather than 20. (There are still lots of 20+ offers happening, though, on those "perfect perfect turn key" homes.) We are seeing more inspections written in to offers, and more of those offers getting accepted. Whew! This is GREAT for buyers. (Keep in mine, in certain areas, and on certain homes, we're still seeing lots of inspections being waived, so just be aware of that if you know you're in a competitive situation.) We are definitely seeing more price reductions, more homes on the market for a bit longer, and more homes without tight offer deadlines. All of these things mean there is hope for the buyers out there, and while we don't really anticipate prices going down, we do anticipate things getting just a bit easier for the buyers out there. (Finally!) "So, what does this mean for sellers? Have we missed our window?" NO! You have not missed your window. It is still a great time to sell! But, we are definitely seeing things trending more to "normal," which means if you're going to sell, there are some things you'll probably want to do to get top dollar (search Selling Your Home posts here for some of those tips!). Cleaning, using a great agent who actually uses professional photos and markets your home, staging, and doing some repairs and prep work are making a comeback for folks who want to get the most money for their home. Also key? Pricing correctly! That window of exorbitantly high prices that still go for over asking may indeed be closing. Questions? I've got answers. Message me or give me a call. I'd love to help!    

Selling Your Home During the Holidays So you've been thinking about selling your home, but time got away from you, you've been busy, there was a lot to do (and forget about any updates or repairs that required building materials this year), and now it's the holiday season. You may as well just wait, right? Not so fast! While generally it is true that the market slows a bit during the winter and around the holidays, this market is different. Yes, I know I sound like a broken record, but just stick with me, and I'll explain. Benefits to Selling During the Holiday Season There are a few benefits of selling around the holidays, in any year, and in any market. First and foremost, there is just not as much competition. While you may not have a flood of showings, you can rest assured that those buyers looking around the holidays are actually looking to buy, and not just curious neighbors or folks out for a walk. But this year? Well, it's all that and then some. As I've mentioned before, this market is not a bubble (like the one back in '07-'09), but really is driven by a housing inventory shortage coupled with interest rates lower than we've seen in years. That means we've not really seen any of the normal drops in the market over the last year. In fact, the days on the market for our entire MLS area is still hovering right around 7 days. (That's the average, too, not the median.) Additionally, we're still at only 1.1 months inventory throughout our MLS area. That's still a long way from a balanced market (6-7 months of inventory). Even though it's a seller's market, there are still some special ways to prepare when you're selling in the holiday season. Top Tips to Sell Your Home During the Holidays Focus on your curb appeal! It matters more now than ever, when things tend to be a little more brown, gray, and the light is not as warm. Clean, clean, clean! Clean those windows, the entry area, and yes, even the trim. Add a fresh, new door mat, maybe a wreath, and a couple of containers with something evergreen. Tone down the outdoor holiday decor, if over the top is your style. Don't go totally Clark Griswold on the house if you want buyers to actually see the house, and not be distracted by the decorations. (I literally cannot stress this enough.) Use a Realtor® to list your home. (I know, sounds biased, but it really does make a difference.) Let's amend that to, "Use a Realtor® who works with a great professional photographer." Having professional photos is a non negotiable these days. I don't care how good your phone camera is. Pro photos will show your house off better. Every single time. Knowing your "perfect buyer." Your agent will know not only "who" your target buyer is, but how to reach them. Especially this time of year, when inclement and chilly weather is the norm, having an agent who will do a video, multiple photos, floorplans, or the like definitely makes it easier for buyers to know whether it's a favorite or a maybe before they even ring the door plan. Go easy on the indoor decor too. The line between great decor and too much is not actually that fine. Think more "warm and cozy holiday cheer" and less "where are we going to put our 900 piece Santa collection." (Pro tip- keep those in the box so they're ready to go to your new home.) Make sure it's easy to move around, and doesn't look cluttered. Got loads of wrapped presents? Keep those to a minimum, too, and if you've got the hottest video game console to be wrapped, just tuck it in a closet. No need to tempt anyone unnecessarily. There's also the bonus of the kids not easily finding their gifts before the big day. Doing some holiday baking? Good smells sell! Keep the feast of the seven fishes to the restaurants this year, but go nuts with the cookies, rum cakes, spiced cider, etc. Again, warm and cozy is never unwelcome in the winter! Perhaps the MOST important, price it to sell! I'm never going to be the agent who wants you to underprice your home, but especially in the winter months, when there are in theory fewer buyers out there looking, not shooting the moon with the price helps position you better in the market. If you're working with me, or any good agent, we'll sit down with you to review the comparables, their sold prices, and how your home stacks up to that. We'll use all the data available to come up with a great plan to help you maximize your investment, your time, and get you to your goals. What questions do you have about selling your home during the holiday season? I'd love to help you determine if now is a good time for you to sell!