Home Selling

The Best Time to Sell My Twin Cities Home

Best Time to Sell Your Home in the Twin Cities | YourWebsite.com

When Is the Best Time to Sell My Home in the Twin Cities?

As winter's chill recedes, the Twin Cities real estate scene bursts into life. This period is characterized by a surge in buyer activity, with many individuals armed with pre-approvals and a keen readiness to invest in their next home. This bustling atmosphere is not just a seasonal spectacle; it's a golden window for sellers. The scarcity of listings combined with the high demand creates a seller's market, where properties often attract multiple offers, some even surpassing the asking price.

The Spring Market Surge: A Seller's Paradise

Forecasting the market's favorability towards sellers in the Twin Cities, the answer is a resounding yes. The alignment of favorable interest rates, a strong buyer presence, and limited inventory creates an environment ripe for sellers to achieve exceptional outcomes. This unique confluence of factors makes early spring not just a good time, but potentially the best time to list your home.

Lifestyle Changes and Real Estate Decisions

The decision to sell often coincides with a desire for lifestyle changes—whether it's upsizing to accommodate a growing family, downsizing in the wake of an empty nest, or simply seeking a change of scenery or pace. The spring market offers a versatile platform for these transitions, providing sellers with the leverage to navigate towards their next chapter under advantageous terms.

Capitalizing on the Spring Market: Strategies for Success

To truly leverage the spring selling season, preparation and strategic planning are key. Ensuring your home...

How To Be a Rock Star Home Seller in 5 Easy Steps

The Ultimate Guide to Effortlessly Selling Your Home in Minnesota

Selling your home in Minnesota doesn't have to be a daunting task. With the right approach and expert guidance, you can navigate the process smoothly and efficiently, ensuring the best outcome for your sale. Whether you're upsizing, downsizing, or embarking on a new adventure, here's how you can become a standout seller in the Minnesota real estate market.

1. Collaborate Closely with Your Real Estate Expert

The first step to a successful home sale in Minnesota is choosing a knowledgeable and experienced real estate agent. This professional will be your guide through every step, offering valuable insights on market trends, pricing strategies, and staging tips to highlight your home's best features. Their network of trusted professionals can also assist with any necessary repairs or improvements, making the process seamless.

2. Elevate Your Home’s Appeal

Before listing your home, it's crucial to ensure it's in pristine condition. Address any repairs, enhance the curb appeal, and declutter each space to showcase your home in its best light. A deep clean and thoughtful staging can significantly impact first impressions, making potential buyers feel welcomed and intrigued. For practical cleaning advice, websites like Clean My Space can offer a wealth of tips to get your home looking its absolute best.

3. Maintain Perfection with Minimal Effort

After organizing and cleaning your home, the challenge is to keep it show-ready at all times. Simple daily habits, such as doing dishes immediately and keeping counters clutter-free, can make a big difference. This readiness ensures that your home can be shown to potential buyers with little to no notice, maximizing your chances of a quick and successful sale.

4. Be Accommodating and Prepared for Showings...

5 Hot Tips to Heat Up Your Winter Home Sale

Maximize Your Home's Appeal This Winter

Maximize Your Home's Appeal with Minnesota's Premier Real Estate Agency: Winter Edition

1. Ensure Accessible Beauty, Snow or Shine

In Minnesota's snowy embrace, keeping your pathways clear is not just about safety; it's about making an impeccable first impression. Our agency emphasizes the importance of accessibility to your home, ensuring a welcoming path free of snow and ice. This season, let the snow accentuate the beauty of your property, providing a picturesque backdrop that enhances your home's appeal. For those with green thumbs, we recommend preparing a photo album showcasing your garden in full bloom, offering a glimpse into the warmer months ahead.

2. Let There Be Light

The natural light of winter, though scarce, can be your ally in highlighting your home's interior. We advise minimizing window dressings to maximize daylight, creating an inviting glow that beckons potential buyers. For evening showings, a well-lit home not only looks more inviting but also feels warmer and cozier, setting the stage for a memorable first impression.

3. Craft a Cozy Atmosphere

A warm welcome goes beyond the thermostat setting. We guide our sellers to create an ambiance of warmth and comfort, from the strategic placement of throws and cushions to the subtle scent of spices or potpourri. An active fireplace, whether gas or electric, can be the heart of your home's warm embrace, making it irresistible to visitors.

4. Seasonal Charm and Elegance

Decorations can transform your home into a winter wonderland that captivates potential buyers. We recommend tasteful and simple touches, like a classic wreath or elegant greenery, that celebrate the season without overwhelming the senses. Strategic lighting and seasonal decor can turn your property into...

Thinking About Selling? Do It Now - Here's Why

Maximizing Your Home Sale in Minnesota: The Fall vs. Spring Debate

As we transition from the vibrant summer months into the serene embrace of fall, homeowners in the Twin Cities area contemplating selling their homes are presented with a unique opportunity. The prevailing wisdom often highlights spring as the prime real estate season, but current market data and trends suggest that selling your home in the fall can be equally, if not more, advantageous. This is particularly relevant in the dynamic Minnesota housing market, where seasonal shifts play a pivotal role in buyer behavior and market dynamics.

Fall: A Season of Opportunity in the Twin Cities

Market Conditions Favor Sellers

Recent reports from the Minneapolis Association of Realtors illuminate a market that remains robustly in favor of sellers. With inventory levels decreasing by 17.4% and median sale prices on an upward trajectory, increasing by 5.6%, the fall season offers a ripe landscape for sellers aiming to capitalize on strong demand and competitive pricing.

Rental Market Pressures

With Twin Cities rents continuing their upward march, the appeal of homeownership intensifies for many prospective buyers. The escalating rental costs, coupled with the allure of building equity in a home, create a fertile ground for sellers, as more renters look to transition into homeownership during the fall.

The Appeal of Pre-Winter Purchases

Minnesota's winters are renowned for their intensity, making the prospect of moving during this season less than desirable for many. By listing in the fall, sellers tap into a pool of buyers eager to settle into their new homes before the winter holidays and the onset of snow and ice.

Spring: The Traditional Selling Season

While the fall market presents compelling reasons for listing your home, it's important to acknowledge the enduring appeal of the spring...

Selling a Home this Winter? 5 Hot Tips for Cold Weather Listings

Preparing Your Twin Cities Home for a Winter Sale

Preparing Your Twin Cities Home for a Winter Sale in 2024

Minnesota Home for sale in the Winter

Optimizing your Twin Cities home for a winter sale in 2024 involves specific strategies to overcome the challenges presented by cold weather, snow, and limited daylight. The goal is to make your property stand out and appeal to top real estate agents and prospective buyers. Here are refined and updated tips to prepare your home for a successful winter market listing:

1. Ensure Accessibility in All Seasons

Maintain clear pathways by diligently shoveling snow and de-icing driveways and walkways. Accessibility is key for making a positive first impression. While snow removal might be burdensome, it eliminates the need for regular lawn care and can even enhance your home's appeal by adding a serene, snow-covered aesthetic. For homes with notable landscaping, prepare a photo album showcasing your garden and outdoor features during the warmer months to highlight their potential.

2. Maximize Natural and Artificial Light

With shorter days, making the most of natural light is crucial. Keep windows unobstructed to let in as much daylight as possible. In the evenings, ensure your home feels welcoming with strategically placed lamps and exterior lighting. This not only enhances the warmth of your property but also showcases its potential for cozy evenings.

3. Create a Warm and Inviting Atmosphere

Adjust the thermostat to a comfortable 70-72 degrees Fahrenheit during showings to welcome buyers with a warm environment. Utilize the charm of a gas or electric fireplace if available, and accentuate...

The Optimal Time to List Your House: Navigating Seasons and Market Trends

When Is The Best Time To List My House? An In-Depth Analysis

Deciding when to list your house is a pivotal decision that can significantly impact the success of your sale. While the optimal time to sell a house can vary based on local market conditions, broader real estate trends provide valuable insights. In this blog post, we'll explore the best times to list your house for sale, considering various factors that influence the housing market.

Understanding Seasonal Trends in Real Estate

Broadly speaking, spring emerges as the prime season for selling homes. This period, typically defined as late March through June, aligns with several factors that make it an ideal time for real estate transactions:

Spring: The Golden Season for Sellers

  • Favorable Weather: Warmer, longer days in spring make house hunting more appealing. Properties look their best with blooming gardens and extended daylight hours for showings.
  • School-Year Considerations: Many families aim to relocate during summer to avoid disrupting the school year, making spring an ideal time to start house hunting.
  • Tax Refunds: With tax refunds in hand, potential buyers may have extra funds for down payments.

Late Spring and Early Summer: The Peak Months

Specifically, late spring and early summer - May, June, and April - are often the peak months for selling homes. During this period, sellers can potentially net thousands of dollars more compared to the slower months of October, November, and December. This trend is supported by a comprehensive analysis conducted in 2023.

Fall and Winter: The Off-Peak Seasons

In contrast, fall and winter generally see a dip in homebuying activity. Several factors contribute to this trend:

  • Holiday Season: The busy holiday season and colder weather can deter both sellers and buyers.
  • School Year:...

7 Great Tips For Selling Your House in the Fall

Unlock the Secrets to Selling Your Home This Fall with Minnesota's Best Realtor

Secrets to Selling Your Home This Fall with Minnesota's Best Realtor

As the leaves begin to turn and the air grows crisp, it's clear that autumn in Minnesota is not just a season of change but a season of opportunity for home sellers. If you've been contemplating whether this is the right time to sell your home, let the expertise of Minnesota's best realtor guide you through a successful sale this fall. With the Twin Cities real estate market remaining robust and analysts hailing this as one of the most favorable times in the last 15 years to sell, the autumn season offers a unique window of opportunity.

Why Fall Is the Prime Time to Sell in Minnesota

Autumn brings a special kind of magic to Minnesota, not just in the natural beauty of its landscapes but also in the dynamics of its real estate market. The fall season is the second-best time of the year for home sales, with a decrease in inventory levels enhancing your chances of finding the right buyer. Moreover, a diverse pool of buyers, including millennials, empty nesters, and those relocating for jobs, are actively searching for homes, driven by the allure of low interest rates and easier mortgage approvals.

7 Expert Tips for Selling Your Home This Autumn

1. Enhance Your Autumn Curb Appeal

First impressions are everything. Elevate your home's exterior with seasonal decorations like chrysanthemums and pumpkins, ensuring your property stands out as warm and inviting.

2. Stage Your Home with Fall in Mind

Inside, incorporate the rich, cozy colors of fall through accents and décor, making every room an inviting space that potential buyers can envision themselves in.

3. Create a Cozy Atmosphere

Emphasize the comfort of your home with soft throws,...

Prepare to Sell Your Home in the Spring

Ultimate Guide to Sell Your Twin Cities Home

Are you considering selling your home in Minneapolis or St. Paul? The Twin Cities real estate market is unique, offering diverse opportunities for sellers, whether you're in bustling neighborhoods or serene suburbs. This guide provides essential tips and strategies to effectively sell your Twin Cities home, ensuring you navigate the market with confidence.

Understand the Twin Cities Real Estate Market

The first step in selling your home is understanding the Twin Cities real estate market. The market trends in Minneapolis might differ slightly from those in St. Paul, with varying demand levels, property values, and buyer preferences. Stay informed about local real estate trends, including average home prices, days on market, and inventory levels. This knowledge will help you price your home competitively and market it effectively.

Prepare Your Home for Sale

Preparing your home for sale is crucial to attract potential buyers and secure the best possible offer. Consider making necessary repairs and upgrades that will enhance your home's appeal. Staging your home, both inside and out, can also make a significant difference. Professional staging highlights your home's strengths, making it more inviting to prospective buyers.

Marketing Your Home

To sell your Twin Cities home quickly and for the best price, effective marketing is key. High-quality photos and virtual tours can showcase your home's best features. Utilize online platforms, social media, and traditional marketing methods to reach a broad audience. Highlighting the unique aspects of your home and neighborhood, such as nearby parks, schools, and amenities, can also attract more interest.

Pricing Strategy

Setting the right price for your Twin Cities home is a delicate...

Sell Your House Fast With These 15 Tips

15 Curb Appeal Tips to Sell Your Home Fast in the Twin Cities Western Suburbs

15 Curb Appeal Tips to Sell Your Home Fast in the Twin Cities 

Maximize your home's first impression with expert local realtor advice.

Make a Lasting First Impression

Your home's exterior is pivotal in attracting offers and determining the speed of your sale. Ensure your home's curb appeal is top-notch with these strategies:

  1. Power Wash Perfection: Clean your home's exterior and windows to make them sparkle.
  2. Door Delight: Paint your front door a vibrant color for a welcoming entrance.
  3. Welcoming Walkway: Refresh your welcome mat with a bright, stylish option or a DIY design.
  4. Floral Flourishes: Add flower baskets and pots near your entrance for color and charm.
  5. Hardware Shine: Update or polish your door's hardware and house numbers.
  6. Lighting Lift: Clean or update outdoor light fixtures.
  7. Sit and Stay Awhile: Place a chair or bench near your entrance as a welcoming gesture.
  8. Entryway Elegance: Enhance your entry with paint, stain, or stencil for a unique touch.

The Front Porch as a Gathering Space

Maximize your front porch's appeal by staging it as an inviting outdoor room with the following elements:

  • Seating and weather-resistant rugs
  • Vibrant plants and flowers
  • Outdoor lighting for evening ambiance

...

The 5 Day Plan To Turn Closet Chaos into Organized Bliss

The 5 Day Plan to Prepare you Home for Sale

With April just around the corner, our thoughts turn to spring. For many, spring not only signals the onset of warm weather, flowers, and birdsong but heralds the time to sweep out the winter detritus from hearth and home, otherwise known as Spring Cleaning. The first logical step in the process is removing all that stuff you really don’t want, don’t need, or never use, your clutter.

For those of you preparing to sell your home this spring, an absolute must for you is to take your cluttered chaos and turn it into organized harmony , but even if you are staying put, what better way to start the new season than with a home free of extra stuff to get in the way of your feng shui. Now that you are sold on the idea of paring down and organizing, there are a couple ways to approach the process of organizing your home.

  • the intense weekend (or two) decluttering boot camp
  • the series of multiple shorter de-junking sessions

Personally, since I am not a fan of pain and suffering, I prefer the “take-it-in-smaller-bites” process. Keep in mind, regardless of whether you opt for the intense program or the low impact version, you still need to perform the same tasks which are:

  • throwing out what is broken, expired, or otherwise useless
  • donating or selling what is in good, workable condition but is no longer wanted, needed or loved
  • organizing what is left in a clean space

...

Selling Homes in Winter

Selling homes in Winter

You just landed your dream job in Minnesota, and while you are over the moon at the prospect, you are not so happy about selling your home in the slowest season of the year for real estate, winter. While there are many aspects involving a significant lifestyle change that you can obsess over, don't allow listing your house to be among them.

Winter home sales in Minnesota

Real estate is not a seasonal business. People buy and sell homes fifty-two weeks a year because life doesn't come to a halt when the temperatures drop and snow flies. All the aspects that necessitate a need to relocate, be it cross country or across town, do not happen exclusively in the year's warmer months. Both advantages and disadvantages are inherent in listing a home for sale in all four seasons. One factor remains constant; presenting your home in its best light will result in quicker deals and higher prices.

When Selling in the winter, accentuate the positive home features

Does your home have features that shine in the winter months? Be sure your potential buyers know about them. Examples include:

  • High-efficiency furnaces
  • Newer energy-efficient windows and doors
  • Extra insulation
  • Solar thermal systems
  • Radiant floors in bathrooms 
  • Four season sunrooms
  • A heated garage
  • Heated walkways and driveway to eliminate ice and snow

Tips for Minnesota winter open houses and buyer tours

  • Turn on your gas or electric fireplace. Remember, anything that makes your home warm and welcoming is an excellent asset in winter. 
  • Brew a pot of tea and set it out with a platter of cookies. Simmer spices such as cinnamon and cloves with orange peels in a small pot in the kitchen. 
  • Open the curtains. Turn on the lamps. Let as much light in as possible. Even bright and sunny homes can appear dark in the winter. 
  • Play some soothing...

Use Hygge to Sell Your House

Use Hygge to Sell Your House

Did you know that Sperling’s Best Places named Minneapolis the third best city for hygge in America?  Now you do. Don’t get me wrong; we are not turning our nose up at the third-place award to Seattle #1 and Portland #2. However, some of us think with more people of Scandinavian heritage in the Twin Cities and colder winters, we should be #1 when it comes to getting our hygge mojo working.

What does hygge even mean, and how do you pronounce it?

By now, you have probably at least heard the term hygge. It is a Danish concept that has created a considerable buzz in the home décor market. But it is not just about decorating; it’s a lifestyle. It is a concept of embracing simple pleasures. The Danes, being awesome people, created hygge in the 18 century, and it remains an integral part of their culture today.

The word is pronounced “hue-gah.” Frequently defined as coziness, and in the Oxford English Dictionary as “to keep or make oneself snug.” So hygge also reflects a feeling of safeness and warmth. The critical thing to note is that even with long winters and limited hours of daylight, Danes are considered the world’s happiest people. Since you want buyers to be the most satisfied people when they tour your home, let’s hit them with some hygge.

Soft, Warm, Snug Cozy

Hygge decorating is about texture. Soft materials that provide warmth and comfort are essential. Aspects of this decorating style that you can pull together in staging your home for winter are knits, fur or velvet pillows, soft fuzzy throws of soft merino wool or cashmere, and fluffy rugs. Hygge is about color too. Whites and soft greys are perfect wall colors. White woodwork or natural light woods are perfect compliments. The color scheme should be neutral and mix grays, browns, white, and black. Warm wood furnishings fit in perfectly with this décor style as well. Other aspects of hygge include candles,...

Best Tips For Home Sellers Who Want to Rock Holiday Decor

Staging for The Holidays

Let’s face it, selling your home over the Christmas Holiday can be a challenge. It goes over, and above the usual inconveniences you must endure and the compromises to the rhythm of your family’s routine you must make when you sell. For most, it happens to be the busiest time of the year regarding shopping, family activities, and entertaining. A string of strangers looking in all your nooks and crannies is not at the top of your wish list.

Many sellers temporarily take their home off the market in December while others wait until January to list. However, there are buyers out there, and most of them that are house shopping in December are serious buyers. So for those sellers with a high level of motivation, the holidays can provide a unique opportunity for your home to shine. You can also get a step ahead of the competition who decide to fast forward to January.

Once you decide to market your home when bells on bobtails ring, the next question is should you decorate and if so what are the rules? Here, the basic rules of staging your home for any season apply. Keep everything clean, eliminate clutter and avoid the personal items in your choice of holiday decorations.

Now let’s drill down to the details. Here are my best tips for home sellers who want to rock their holiday décor.

Keep the Holiday Decorations Simple

If you want a genuinely minimal look when you stage your home for the holiday consider subtle touches such as a beautiful bowl filled with pinecones, a vase filled with holly branches, and an evergreen wreath over the mantle or in a large window.

Avoid Clutter and Over Decorating

You may love your Christmas village homes and antique Santa collection. This year keep them in storage. Give a light touch to the decorations and keep them generic and understated. You want people looking at your home, not at your collectibles. Limit your holiday décor to the...

Prepare Now To Sell Later

Sell Your Home When The Time Is Right For You

It’s no surprise that many people advocate that the best time to sell a home is in the Spring. Part of the reason this theory has evolved is that families want to be established in their new homes by the beginning of the school year in September. While this does make sense for families with children, when it comes to when to put your home on the market there are no one-size fits all scenarios. 

Even though Spring may be considered prime time for home sales by many in the industry, there is no perfect time for everyone. Every situation is different, and when you are personally ready to sell, that becomes the best season for you. However, there is one piece of home-selling wisdom that is always true no matter what time of year you sell.

Can you guess that one sliver of home-selling wisdom?  It’s the preparation of your home to look its best in winter, spring, summer or fall. Making an outstanding first impression on buyers will determine how quickly you sell and how high a price you obtain. A home that is move-in ready will face a cleaner offer with fewer if any contingencies. Even in this strong seller’s market, we find ourselves in right now, the condition and appearance of your home do matter.

It makes the most sense to take the time to get your home in tip-top shape for the fussiest of fussy buyers. If you think your house is nearly market ready and only needs some decluttering and a deep cleaning that’s great.  If on the other hand, you are a homeowner that knows your family nest could use some feathering, here is a quick list to get you started on your project.

The Kitchen – Deal Maker or Deal Breaker

Updated kitchens are right at the top of the list for potential home buyers. A new kitchen can make your home irresistible. If you have an older kitchen, does that mean you should forge ahead and replace it with a $40,000 renovation?  It depends on the value of your home. For...

The Biggest Turn-offs for Buyers

Twin Cities Buyers Know What They Don't Want

The one thing most sellers have in common is that they are unable to look at their property with a dispassionate and critical eye. The longer they have lived in their home, the more emotionally attached they become. Many simply cannot understand that the cracked tile in the foyer they have lived with for 10 years, should be of concern to a buyer. Or the magenta bedroom walls they adore would be another person’s decor nightmare.

After being a realtor in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro for 16 years and closing on close to 1000 properties, I have shown my share of homes that made buyers run for the exit shouting, “next please”! I have been the listing agent challenged with marketing the lime green home with hot pink trim.  So over the years, I have probably not heard it all, but enough to tell you what makes a buyer look like he just sucked a lemon. Sellers can and should take matters into their own hands before they put their home up for sale to avoid having their home sit on the market for a long time and sell for less money. 

Big Ticket Replacement Items

A house with a roof that is at the end of its lifespan or siding that needs to be updated is a major red flag for buyers. The same holds true for old electrical systems with fuse boxes and ancient plumbing. If an Octopus furnace, the monster in the basement also known as a gravity furnace, with asbestos wrapping around the ducts lives in the basement that will generally have buyers looking for the door quickly. 

It would be in the seller’s best interest to address major issues such as these beforehand, but if the circumstances make that impossible, there can always be a credit back to the buyer at closing to take care of the replacements, although that solution may end up costing the seller more in the long run.

Location Challenges

Here is that location, location real estate thing...

October Twin Cities Housing Market Review

October Twin Cities Housing Market

As we approach the end of the year, it appears that the Twin Cities housing market story for 2017 is pretty much repeating the theme of strong and persistent demand for housing with an ever-shrinking supply of homes to buy below $500,000.  We shouldn’t be surprised at the continuation of this trend when we look at interest rates and our local economy.

The 30-year mortgage interest rate dipped from 4.3% to 3.9%, an amazing bargain when you consider the long-term average rate is 8%. While nationally the unemployment rate is 4.1, in our own Minneapolis-St. Paul Metro it is 2.9, the third lowest metro unemployment rate in the country. Our thriving economy is diverse and vibrant, our workforce talented, our schools first-rate and with a robust arts community and 4-season recreation options makes our quality of life second to none. It’s no wonder we have one of the highest homeownership scores in the nation.

As we take a closer look at the statistics for October this year versus last year, we find new listings increased 3.1% although inventory of homes available fell a whopping 18%. This puts the month's supply of inventory at 2.2 which is 18.5% lower than last year. An undeterred 4994 buyers closed on a home last month, up 0.3% and pending sales were also up 3.9% from same time last year. Homes sold faster for more money, selling on an average of 52 days compared to 61 while the median sale price rose by 6.1% to $244,000.

Minneapolis-St. Paul Housing Market Year to Date

...

Preparing Your Home to Sell

Preparing your home to sell

It is critical that you choose a Realtor that will tell you all of things you should do to prepare your home to sell. If you hire a good real estate agent and follow their advice, tips and tricks, you will sell your home for top dollar. Before you put your house up for sale, you need to deep clean, de-clutter and depersonalize it. When you are getting your home ready to sell, these are the basics and the best place to start.  We want to make your property look as much like a new house as possible. Our goal is to project a warm and inviting environment, as clean, spacious, and impersonal as we can so that potential buyers can visualize your house as their home, with their furniture in the living room, their art on the walls and their car in the garage.

Home selling preparation step 1

This can often be the most difficult step for some sellers because often they have an emotional attachment to everything in their house. However, you really need to get rid of the clutter because one thing I know for sure, a buyer's dream house does not include your clutter! It will help you to look at this process objectively and realize that your beloved napkin collection filling up a shelf of the linen closet is clutter from a buyer's perspective. Remember, the buyer is purchasing your house not your stuff, and you want him or her to visualize where they can put their stuff!

Preparing your home to sell step 2 

The best way to tackle the task of purging is to separate everything into 3 categories, toss, donate, and keep. Go room to room, basement to attic and toss all items that are broken, no longer working, or in a condition too poor to donate.  Next, items in good condition but you no longer want or need you can donate.  What is left is all that you want to keep.  At this point, whatever you don’t need for day to day living or will not be used to stage your home you can pack ready for when you move to your new home.  Rather than...

10 Ways To Grab Buyers at Hello

That All Important First Impression

It’s well established that a first introduction is vitally important. That initial handshake can either lead to a meeting of the minds, or to no deal. “I hope I make a bad first impression,” said no one ever!  In real estate, we see this play out again and again.

When you are selling, the first personal impression when a buyer tours your home is like the handshake. If they don’t like what they see pulling up to the curb, walking into the lobby, or opening the front door, the cash register is going to ring up “no sale”.

Although a good first impression of your home may not always end up in making a deal, it is always the first step into getting to that important offer to purchase.  Here are 10 ways to make a great first impression on prospective buyers.

1. Get Buyers To See Your Home

Today, most real estate transactions are born on the internet. The first interaction a prospective buyer has with your house is online. If there is no connection with them in those first photos, it’s extremely unlikely to go to the next step with a private showing. Make sure you have an agent that takes quality photos of your property, preferably professional ones. 

2. Remove Clutter, Organize and Depersonalize

Removing Clutter and organizing is critically important. A well-organized home without clutter and disarray allows buyers to see there is enough room for themselves and all their stuff. One reason people look for a new home is they have outgrown the one they currently reside in so if they think for even one second your home is not spacious enough or lacks storage they will move on. Remove personal photos and memorabilia as well. You want your prospective buyer to think of this as their home, not yours so please remove that urn containing Rover’s ashes off the mantel.

3. Clean Until Your Home Sparkles in the Sun...

5 Reasons To Sell Your Twin Cities Home Now

The 5 Reasons Twin Cities Home Sellers Should List Now 

Even though March is still very much a winter month in the Twin Cities, we had a few days of spring-like weather in February.  Those days may have been a teaser but I will tell what is no joke  – the spring home buying season started in January! Buyers are eagerly snatching up properties with wild abandon. If you are planning to sell your house this year, the earlier in the year you get your house on the market, the better.  This phenomenal seller's market is not going to last forever but right now it’s all about you and the question on my mind today is, what are you waiting for? 

1. Tenacious Buyers Will Not Be Here Forever

To say there are many eager buyers in the market watching the posting of new listings with a keen eye is an understatement.  Many have not just been anticipating home ownership for weeks, a great number of buyers have been looking for months. With so much competition for so little inventory, a large number of these buyers have attempted to secure a deal on a home only to lose out to another eager buyer.  They are not giving up anytime soon but market conditions such as rising interest rates may force them out. This sense of urgency is inspiring them to make great offers, very often above list price while making few demands.

2. The Anticipated Rise in Interest Rates Could Knockout A Sellers' Market

The market experienced an unanticipated spike in mortgage interest rates at the end of last year immediately following the presidential election.  Right now they...

Twin Cities Housing Market November 2016 - Here's the Story

Twin Cities Housing Market Statistics November 2016

Here we are almost at year’s end and wrapping up on the Twin Cities Housing Market that tells one consistent story. It’s about fewer and fewer homes for sale spending a shorter time on the market and selling for higher prices.  A market that favors the seller has been the dominant theme throughout this year. A deeper dive into the numbers for November give us a clear picture of the market trend.

Prices of homes continue on an upward trajectory with a 5.8% increase in the median sales price over last year. Closed sales topped out at a 25.2% increase and inventory dropped a whopping 22.8%. Due to volatility in financial markets responding to the results of the presidential election, the long awaited increase in interest rates happened before the expected Fed increase of last week, which boosted the mortgage interest rate in the Twin Cities to 4.25% with the expectation that rates will continue their upward climb in 2017.

While employment numbers and job creation have remained strong since August 2015, the long-term indicators of what effect the new administration will have on the housing market remain someone cloudy. With a raise in rates, we might very likely see a decrease in first time home buyers that will be able to purchase a home, which may result in a more balanced market in the coming year.

 

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