Month: September 2015

It’s a buyer’s market. It’s a seller’s market. You’ve probably heard these terms before. But what do they really mean when you’re considering buying or selling a home?

A buyer’s market exists when the supply of homes in a particular market exceeds the demand. Since there are more homes for sale, and fewer buyers, homes tend to stay on the market longer and prices may drop.

As a home shopper, you would have more time to look for a home, and more negotiating leverage.

In a seller’s market, by contrast, there are more buyers looking around than there are homes for sale. This would be an advantage when selling a home because the demand would likely cause the home to sell more quickly and for a better price.

As a home shopper, however, you would have to make decisions more quickly, since others may be interested in the same properties.

As you can see, each market has its pros and cons – for both buyers and sellers.

Luckily, a Realtor® who understands your local market can help you navigate through either market condition and help get you into your next dream home.

When you prepare your house for sale, you want to make every room look stunning. But, for any number of reasons, that isn’t always possible. You may not have the time or resources to redecorate or “stage” your entire house. So if you have to choose just three rooms to focus on, which should they be?

According to studies, home buyers base over 50% of their overall impression of a home on three rooms: the front entrance area (or foyer), the kitchen, and the main family room. So it pays to focus your efforts on these key areas.

To begin, make the front entrance area look as spacious as possible. Remove coat racks, shoe mats, and other items that may make the space seem smaller than it is.

Then, make sure the kitchen is as clean and uncluttered as possible. Remove any unnecessary appliances and other items from the countertops. Touch up cupboard areas where the finish has chipped or faded, and consider upgrading the hardware.

Finally, make sure the family room feels spacious and comfortable. You want a potential buyer to imagine relaxing there, with his or her family.