Real Estate Review: WELCOME HOME Karen DeRose with Broker Sales Associate

Selling Homes in the Fall

Who says spring is the best season to sell a home? While some believe the optimal time to put a home on the market is in the spring, selling a home during the fall months has several distinct advantages for homeowners to consider.

During the fall, there are typically fewer homes available for sale than in the spring and summer, which means that there is less competition and the properties that are on the market are more likely to make an impression. This fall offers a serious opportunity to have a home stand apart in the market.

National trends show that buyers are out in greater force, taking advantage of excellent housing affordability and driving up home sales and prices. According to the National Association of Realtors, existing home sales rose 7.8 percent in August from the month before, and were 9.3 percent higher than a year prior. Median home prices also rose for six straight months year-over-year. And according to the Wall Street Journal, consumer confidence increased in September to its highest level since February, suggesting that spending could rise and help the economy. These are positive indicators heading into the fall market.

Consumers touring homes during the colder months are serious and eager to purchase a new residence. Many of those home-seekers need to purchase a new home because they must relocate from one community to another due to a job or lifestyle change.

Fall also presents an opportunity to spruce up a home and truly make it shine to fit the season. Open the blinds and curtains to let in more natural light and stage the home with pumpkins, wreaths and other festive decorations. Set the thermostat at a comfortable temperature, warm and welcoming if cold has settled in outdoors. If the home has a fireplace, arrange furniture so it is the centerpiece of the room. Staying on top of a property’s upkeep shows buyers that the current owners are serious about keeping their home in good condition. Rake leaves regularly, and clean gutters and downspouts. Bare trees will make flaws in a home’s exterior more visible, so fall is a good time to powerwash off dirt and touch up exterior paint.

To learn if now is the right time for you to buy or sell a home, speak with a sales professional at Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. Using data gathered from your specific community, your Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage sales professional can provide you with and explain the precise factors that could impact you in your decision making process. You may just discover that fall really is the perfect time to move forward with the lifestyle you desire.

 

 

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