At long last we are seeing more consistent positive signs in the real estate market.
As I mentioned in my October Up Close article, the law of supply and demand would eventually take over, and prices had to start coming up because of the low inventory. In November, we saw the median sales price climb for the first time in a year. At the same time, inventory has continued to drop and remains very low. The inventory of single-family homes actively on the market in the middle of December was only 19,000 homes compared to almost 22,000 in August.
Many of my clients have been waiting for prices to inch up so they can upgrade or downsize. Given that you may want to list your home in the next year, now is the time to make a plan for getting your house in great shape to sell. With busy schedules and limited budgets, a plan is always helpful. Here are a few things you may want to put on your to do list to help your house sell when that time comes.
Do an assessment. Go room by room, and make a list of all the little things that need to be done inside and out, and formulate your plan of attack.
Start to declutter. We all seem to accumulate a lot of stuff. Take this time to streamline, and get rid of the stuff you aren’t using.
Buyers will be looking for location and layout, but they also are looking for a home. They try to imagine themselves living in your space. Think about what you love and don’t love about your house. Then ask a friend to give you an honest assessment of your space. Try to imagine how others will perceive your home.
Cosmetic surgery. Consider making some minor interior upgrades. For example, plant flowers, repaint, add some interesting houseplants and also consider minimizing scents. I have had buyers walk out of homes that are so scented with room sprays and pungent candles that it was hard to breath. Plus, these heavy odors make buyers wonder what other smells you might be trying to hide.
Clean the carpets, touch up the baseboards, restain the side gate, clean the ceiling fans, scrub and seal the grout, etc.
Organize your closets. This will help them to appear larger.
These tips are all things you should be able to do yourself, and trust me, you will be happy you started well in advance.
John Karadsheh is a licensed REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker Trails And Paths Premier Properties. He also is an Associate Broker, Accredited Buyers Representative and a Certified Residential Specialist. You can contact John with any of your real estate questions. Call him at (602) 615-0843, or go to his Web site at www.BuyAndSellAZ.com.