The new year just started and the warmer weather won’t arrive here in the Adirondacks for a few months. Many people who are thinking about selling their home this Spring or Summer, and even some who know they will, believe they have a lot of time before they need to start doing anything about it.
But by putting off planning they are making a big mistake.
Even if we put aside the fact that sometimes trying to sell your home in the Winter can be an advantage, there are plenty of reasons to not to delay planning how you are going to get your home on the market and sell for the price you are looking for.
Real Estate Agent. When you’re ready to put your home on the market, you’ll want to already know which agent you will be working with. Now is the time to talk to friends and family about who they have worked with, and do some research on local Adirondack real estate agents. Ideally you’ll select one well before you plan on going on the market, so you can discuss what to expect during the process and develop the best plan.
Next Home. If you don’t have a second home to move into, this is critical. Start figuring out where you are moving to. Realize that although it may take a while for your home to sell, what if you get an offer shortly after you put the For Sale sign on your lawn? Can you find temporary housing? Will the timeline of your initial plan be able to be sped up?
Asking Price. Just because you think your home should fetch a certain price doesn’t mean it is realistic. Research and analysis is needed on the current state of the Adirondack real estate market. You also need to look at how much similar homes have sold for recently. Once you know the range of what your asking price should be, you’ll need to see if it fits in with what you need to get in order to make selling your home worth it.
Bigger Home Projects. When it comes time to put your home on the market, it should be in good condition, or at least in a condition in line with what potential buyers would expect. Many buyers will expect a home to be in move in condition (or close to it). And of course it will need to pass inspection. So if there are any issues that you have been putting off, now is the time to get them completed. Get the leaking roof fixed. Make sure all elements of the bathroom and kitchen are in working order. Replace carpet that has been beaten up over the years. If you can help it, don’t give potential buyers reasons to turn away.
Do you have plans to put your Adirondack home on the market in the coming months? Be sure you are doing what you can to make the process go as smoothly as possible. If you have questions, or need help figuring out where to start, don’t hesitate to call me. I’m happy to talk to you about ways to prepare your home (and yourself) for the Adirondack real estate market this Spring.
