How To Prepare For The Spring Real Estate Market

Tips For Selling A Home During The Spring Real Estate Market

Each and every year once the New Year is underway those homeowners who have decided they will be selling their home during the spring real estate market should start making some decisions, doing some research, and begin preparing themselves, their families, and their home for the market.

In most real estate markets the spring is the best time to be selling a home, for multiple reasons.  Some of the most common reasons why the spring real estate market is the best time to be selling a home include;

• Supply of ready, willing, and able buyers is the highest in the spring
• Buyers typically get their income tax returns during the spring which can be put towards the purchase of a home
• More daylight meaning homes will typically show better
• Landscaping and curb appeal during the spring is better than the fall or winter months

This is certainly no exception in the Rochester real estate market and I’m sure the same can be said in your local real estate market.  Most real estate markets will start to see a increase in the number of homes for sale as well as number of homes being sold after February 1st.

One mistake that homeowners that have decided to sell their home in the spring real estate market commonly make is waiting to get themselves and their home ready to be listed for sale.  Timing the spring real estate market just right is critical and missing two or three weeks of the prime spring market because they weren’t prepared can cost a homeowner thousands of dollars.

Below are some of the most important tips on how to prepare for the spring real estate market.  There are tips not only on how to prepare your home but also how to prepare yourself and family.  Sellers who follow the tips below on how to prepare for the spring real estate market will have a much more enjoyable and successful home selling experience.

Interview Prospective Realtors® & Create A Game Plan

One of the most important components of a successful home sale in real estate is correctly hiring a real estate agent.  Too many homeowners make the same mistakes made when choosing a real estate to sell their home.

Choosing a top real estate agent begins with knowing how to interview prospective Realtors®.  Having a top real estate agent can truly make the difference when selling a home in the spring real estate market due to many factors.

A top real estate agent will consult with a seller to create a game plan that will lead to a successful and enjoyable home selling experience.  Below are three of the many things that a top real estate agent will help a seller work through in order to create a game plan that is acceptable and ultimately will lead to a successful spring real estate market sale.

When During The Spring Real Estate Market Should You List Your Home?

To the contrary of what many sellers believe, timing the spring real estate market is very important.  Listing a home for sale too early or too late can cost a seller thousands of dollars.  A top real estate agent will discuss with a homeowner about the current market conditions in order to determine exactly when to list their home for sale.

A top real estate agent will analyze statistics from previous years to see when the best time to list a home for sale in a particular neighborhood.  While it’s no guarantee that the current year will be the same as previous, by analyzing trends within a particular area from previous years, a top real estate agent can increase the chances that they time listing the home for sale correctly.

Sellers who are going to be selling their home in the spring real estate market should expect to hear real estate terms such as market absorption rate and average days on the market from their real estate agent.

What Price Will You List Your Home For?

Another extremely important part of the game plan that needs to be determined when preparing to sell a home during the spring real estate market is the price a home will be listed for.  A top real estate agent will consult with a seller to help determine the price a home should be listed at, in order to initiate a timely sale.

Just like there are common mistakes that sellers make when selecting a real estate agent, there are common real estate pricing mistakes that sellers make.  If you’ve hired a top real estate agent to sell your home in the spring real estate market and they tell you the price you want to ask is too high, chances are, it’s too high.

There are many dangers of overpricing a home and it’s important a seller understands this.  If a seller has properly interviewed prospective Realtors® and hired an agent they feel confident in they should trust what their agent is suggesting for a listing price.

What Is Your Next Move?

Will you be moving out of state?  Will you be moving into an apartment?  Will you buying another home?  If so, are you able to purchase a new home without selling your existing home?  These are just a few of the many scenarios that a seller may encounter when selling their home.

Whether you’re a first time home seller or you’re selling your fifth home, it’s important to understand what the next move is.  Having a competent and successful real estate agent who has experience in helping sellers in many different scenarios can make the process seem less stressful.

Are You & Your Family Prepared For The Spring Real Estate Market?

The spring real estate market is often very fast paced.  It’s important that a seller who will be selling their home in the spring real estate market that their family and themselves understand what to expect.

If a home is priced and marketed properly, the first week that a home is listed for sale should be a mad frenzy of people wanting to view the home, hopefully generating a multiple offer scenario.  This may mean that a seller and their family may have to leave their home several times in a day while private showings are occurring.

It’s important that a seller and their family is prepared to accommodate private showings with reasonable notice.  Sellers who turn away showings because it is an inconvenience for them may potentially be costing themselves money and quite frankly, a sale of their home!

If a seller happens to have kids or pets, the importance of understanding the expectations when selling a home during the spring real estate market becomes even more important.  Inevitably, a seller who has a kids, pets, or both will have additional challenges when selling their home.  If this is the case, knowing how to sell a home with kids or pets becomes crucial.

Is Your Home Prepared For The Spring Real Estate Market?

Once a seller prepares themselves and their family for the spring real estate market, it’s now time to make sure their home is prepared.  It’s very important that when selling a home, whether it’s during the spring or not, that a seller understands how to prepare a home for the real estate market.  Below are many of the interior, exterior, and general tasks that should be completed prior to selling a home during the spring real estate market.

Interior Tasks To Complete When Preparing A Home For The Spring Real Estate Market

Below are some of the most important interior tasks to complete when preparing a home for sale.  Many of the tasks below are low cost home sale preparation tips and in many cases, cost nothing except for time and effort.

• Clean windows
• Clean light bulbs and replace, if necessary
• Wash and polish flooring
• Vacuum and steam clean any carpeting
• Dust all surfaces
• Organize all closets and storage areas
• Declutter
• Repaint/Neutralize rooms, if necessary
• Deep clean appliances

Exterior Tasks To Complete When Preparing A Home For The Spring Real Estate Market

The curb appeal of a home can make a huge difference when it comes to whether or not a buyer elects to view a home.  If a potential buyer drives by a property that looks neglected from the exterior it is possible they will decide to not look at the home.  Below are some of the most important exterior tasks to complete when preparing a home for the spring real estate market.

• Reseal driveway
• Freshly mulch flowerbeds and gardens
• Trim shrubs and bushes
• Plant bright flowers and plants
• Clean windows
• Paint faded or peeling paint, if applicable
• Wash siding, if applicable
• Clean and inspect gutters and downspouts
• Inspect roof
• Inspect chimney

General Tasks To Complete When Preparing A Home For The Spring Real Estate Market

There are specific home maintenance tasks that homeowners should complete prior to selling their home.  It is very easy to detect when a homeowner has neglected their home, simply by walking through it.  Below are some of the most important general tasks to complete when preparing a home for the spring real estate market.

• Service your HVAC systems (furnace & central air conditioning)
• Evaluate the efficiency of your home
• Inspect the plumbing

Begin Planning For Your Move

It is very rare that you will hear anyone say that they enjoy moving. The reality is that it can be very stressful and exhausting. Another important tip on how to prepare for the spring real estate market is to begin planning for your move. One of the worst mistakes that a homeowner can make is to wait to begin planning for their move and delay packing.

Since the spring real estate market is so fast paced, it’s feasible a seller may receive an offer within the first 24 hours. One of the best tips to make moving less stressful and easier is to begin packing while decluttering a home. As you come across items that you want to remove while your home is being shown, begin placing these items in properly labeled boxes.

For example, if you’re decluttering a closet by replacing winter clothing with summer clothing, place it in a box that is labeled appropriately. This can make the task of unpacking in a new home significantly easier if everything is organized and easily identifiable.

Many homeowners who begin planning for their move will elect to purchase a storage facility or unit. Since there are many different types of storage options it’s important to know how to choose a storage facility or unit beforehand.

Final Thoughts

Execute, execute, execute! A seller who has decided to sell their home during the spring real estate market must take all the necessary steps if they want to have an enjoyable and successful experience.

With the help of a top real estate professional and by following the proper tips on how to prepare for the spring real estate market, it can seem like a very easy process. Always remember that the spring real estate market will vary from city to city and it’s possible your spring market may begin in the next week or two!

If you’ve decided that you will be selling your home in the spring real estate market and haven’t found a top real estate agent, I have a connection with top Realtors® across the country that I can connect you with. Simply click on the image below, enter your contact information, and I will connect you with a top Realtor® in your city!

Other Top Home Selling Resources

• 5 Tips To Prepare For Spring Real Estate Madness via RIS Media
• 11 Ways To Sell Your Home For More Than Your Neighbors via Raleigh Realty
• How To Sell A Home | Top Home Selling Resources via Bundlr

Are you a homeowner in Rochester, NY?  Have you decided to sell your home in the spring or considering it?  Is one of your questions; when does the spring real estate market begin in Rochester NY?  If so and you haven’t chosen a top Rochester real estate agent, contact me and we can discuss your real estate needs and determine whether us working together would be beneficial or not.

About the authors: The above article “How To Prepare For The Spring Real Estate Market” was provided by the Keith Hiscock Sold Team (Keith & Kyle Hiscock). With over 30 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise.

We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.

Visit our website at www.HiscockHomes.com.