From A Woman's Perspective: May 25th, 2024 "The best time to sell your home"
Friday May 24th, 2024
The best time to sell your home
Canada is known for having four glorious seasons, but in real estate there are two best times to consider selling: Spring and Fall. Historically, there are more transactions and higher sale prices during April-May-June and then again in September-October-November. If you were to graph the annual price and activity trend, it would look like a two-humped camel, with a Spring hump and a Fall Hump.
Since we’re in the middle of the Spring hump, and you haven’t listed your home for sale with me yet, obviously lol, the next best time to list your home for sale has historically been after Labour Day. That means as of today, you have 100 days to get ready for the next best time to sell.
Steps to prepare - The SMART Moves 100-day home selling strategy
STUFF - Almost without exception, my seller clients have more stuff than they need, want or even use. That’s where our “30-Day Decluttering Challenge” can help. Sign up on our website, and you’ll receive a daily email with a manageable task, tips and inspiration to help you overcome the overwhelm. Decluttering is the single most important activity you can do during this preparation period.
MAINTENANCE - Now is the time to take care of those “deferred maintenance” items that tend to accumulate over time. Anything that could raise a red flag for buyers or their home inspectors should be fixed now so that it doesn’t cost you later. The only exception to this advice is replacing your furnace or air conditioner. Please do not lease your HVAC equipment. It can cost you thousands of dollars when you have to buy out the contract.
ATTENTION TO CURB APPEAL - Now is a good time to enhance the curb appeal of your property. Fresh mulch, a new mailbox, shiny clean windows - all tell potential buyers that your home is well-maintained and worth their time and effort to come visit. Most exterior changes are relatively easy and affordable, but pay off big time when making a good first impression.
REFRESH INTERIOR SPACES - My seller clients often ask me about the pay-back on renovations. My advice is to always keep it simple. Refreshing paint, updating lighting fixtures, and perhaps swapping out flooring is about as far as I think most homeowners should go. In our booklet, “Best Renos for R.O.I [Return on Investment],” I outline the types of cosmetic changes that today’s buyers are looking for. Request your copy at our website to see my recommendations on SMART presale improvements.
TAKE MENTAL INVENTORY - Getting ready to sell your long-time home is as much about doing the mental preparation as it is about fixing stuff or decluttering. This is why I recommend my clients to take stock of their reasons for downsizing. What benefits do they expect to realize? What are their motivations? What obstacles do they need to overcome? Finally, who do they need to bring into the process to journey with them? These and other probing questions are examined in our booklet, “Downsizing Done Right.” By reminding ourselves of the wellness, lifestyle and financial goals that downsizing will help us achieve, it’s a bit easier to deal with the stress and effort moving requires. Keep your eyes on the prize!
So, there you have it, Marilyn. The SMART Moves 100-day home selling strategy to get ready for the next best time to sell your home. The guides that I have mentioned are:
All of these are available on our website, smartrealtysolution.com or by calling me, Sharon, at 416-460-5636.
And PS: If you’re a buyer wondering when the best times are to find affordable properties, it’s during the other two seasons: Summer and Winter. So from your Realtor’s perspective, this truly is a glorious four-season marketplace!
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