Spruce Up Your Home To Sell

In a recent blog for the Wall Street Journal some promising news made headlines, "Home sellers are having a far easier time attracting buyers this year and as a result, sellers’ asking prices are on the rise, according to two reports released Wednesday.

The National Association of Realtors reported on the median amount of time homes were listed for sale, a number that fell to 69 days for sales that closed in July, down from 98 days a year earlier. And a good portion of the market is selling faster: A third of homes sold in July were on the market for less than a month, the group said.

The data are compiled from a monthly survey of more than 3,000 of the trade group’s members. The survey asks real-estate agents how long their most recent transaction was listed before selling. Going forward, the Realtors’ group plans to publish this data along with its monthly report on existing-home sales.

With buyers acting more quickly, sellers have been able to boost their listing prices. Asking prices were up by 2.3% in August compared with the same month last year, according to real-estate website Trulia. It was the seventh straight month in which sellers hiked their asking prices, and 68 out of the 100 largest U.S. metropolitan areas reported asking price increases." 

So with the movement happening for both buyers and sellers, what are some of the easy things you can do around your house to get it ready to put on the market? Here's a few ideas: 

- Change out old or tarnished doorknobs, sink fixtures and drawer pulls - head to your local hardware store where you can find up to date hardware affordably. 

- Clean out your gutters. With our recent rains, they may be filled with pine straw and debris. If a potential buyer heads to your home during a storm, you don't want them to see your gutters overflowing! 

- Spruce up the outdoor living area with plants and flowers. These easily up the wow factor. And don't forget to weed the flower beds. 

- Buy a new mailbox if yours is tattered.  Same with your welcome mat. 

- Replace those old curtains, valances and more with lightweight, sheer curtains to allow light to brighten your rooms. 

- Replace house numbers if needed. If the numbers on your house have seen better days, pop right back to that local hardware store and purchase new ones that compliment the colors of your home. 

Remember, to add other little touches to your home to make it smell and look fresh. 

Have questions about selling your home? Contact me! 

Thanks for reading, 
Brenda