Guest post by Suzie Wilson
If you’re gearing up to move, you may be hesitant to put your home on the market during the holiday season, but there’s no reason to fret. The Middletown housing market continues to be competitive with an average list price of $97,750 throughout the course of the last 30 days – that’s up almost 20 percent from last year. And considering that your home is likely to get more attention as the Ohio snow begins to fall, there’s no reason to delay your plans or drop the price in hopes of a quick sale.
Once you’ve researched pricing trends and made comparisons to other houses for sale in the area, you can get to work. Here are a few ways to get your house ready to become someone else’s home:
- Up your curb appeal game. Fall curb appeal ideas include adding weather-tolerant plants and DIY art to celebrate the season. Lowes offers more ideas. Don’t shy away from color as Christmas draws nearer. Even something as simple as colored cushions on your front porch rocking chairs can leave potential buyers with a positive impression of your property.
- Keep it clean. No matter what time of year you put your home on the market, its cleanliness is of the utmost importance. During the winter, you’ll need to pay extra attention to your windows and walkways. Cooler temperatures and fall winds have no doubt shaken all the leaves from the trees, giving the sun the perfect opportunity to flood your interior with light. This light comes through the windows and, if they’ve been neglected, it will only make your home look dated and unkept. You will also need to keep an eye on the front, back, and side entrances to ensure muddy footprints aren’t tracked throughout the home. If you don’t have a mud room, these DIY ideas can help you keep your coats, caps, and winter cover-ups contained.
- Light it up. Most buyers will want to visit your property in the afternoon or on the weekends. But an earlier setting sun will leave your home in the dark. Financial guru Dave Ramsey explains that one great way to shine a light on your home is to literally shine a light on your home. An outdoor spotlight, floodlights, and porch lights at the entry and exit will give potential buyers a glimpse of their future home, and will serve the dual purpose of reducing the possibility for injury.
- Partner with the right realtor. A good real estate agent will be on your side throughout the home-selling process. They will walk you through the steps and answer any questions you may have. BiggerPockets, an online real estate investment education resource provider, explains that a good real estate agent has the experience, knowledge, and tools to sell your property quickly. Winter is a great time to sell, and if your agent markets your home properly, it can actually be a quicker process.
- Stage it. Even though you’ve already taken care of your curb appeal, you’ll still need to stage the interior of your home for a successful showing. While you don’t have to completely redesign each room, eliminate clutter and optimize space in the kitchen, living room, and master bedroom. Staging will allow you to play up the best features of these rooms. Remove family photos and coat the walls in a neutral color. Be prepared to deep clean your home from top to bottom, and gather the materials you need to patch and repair little imperfections that will catch a buyer’s eye.
Just because tradition says winter is the off-season doesn’t mean you shouldn’t move on with your life. With preparation and the right agent, there’s no reason you can’t get out of your current home and on with your life before the New Year.
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