Why freezing could improve your assets!

You see, the thing is, if you're doing what everyone else is not, you've got an advantage.  If most home sellers retire their listing over the winter and "wait til spring" but YOU stay active, guess what happens when someone HAS to buy a home right now?  Yes, you're right, there is far less competition, increasing your odds of selling greatly!

And, if you are buying and you look outside at that cold, gray landscape and ice crusted windshields and think to postpone house hunting, ask a friend to kick you in the butt!  Why?  Because there are many fair weather buyers, but the ones willing to go out on the coldest day of the year often find themselves with a dandy bargain.  Why?  You got it, who wants to carry their home -- especially if its vacant -- over the winter?  A little cold won't kill you AND you'll see how this home performs in the most daunting conditions.

There is always someone that has to buy or has to sell.  Given that the definition of "market value" is based on a simple formula, off season shopping is brilliant!  Market Value = What a reasonable seller and reasonable buyer will agree on.

Who is more reasonable than the seller or buyer willing to go out in the cold to instigate change?

So, wrap up and get out there.  And you sellers, get that cinnamon scent wafting and stay the course!

 

Do you want to list your home or sell your home?

Do you want to list your home or do you want to sell your home?  That is the question!  It might seem like a funny question but there is an important distinction between listing to list and listing to sell.

Sometimes people just want to "try" the market and see if they can get their price.  Some Realtors will take overpriced listings to help their business by spin off activity.  Listings are the best way to get the phone to ring.  (And, speaking of that, I'm currently in ramp up mode for my listing inventory...let me know if you hear of anyone wanting to sell -- including yourself!) 

But, I digress.  Back to overpriced listings -- or overpriced pigs as they're sometimes called in the industry.

If you really are intent on selling your home you need to put your best, educated, Realtor-assisted price foot forward.  You need to see not just what active listings you're competing with, but what homes have actually sold for.  If you're overpriced out of the gate, you will get very few showings and very limited activity.

Even if you find a buyer who falls in love with your overpriced home, unless they have a bag of cash and need no financing, it still will get snagged up.  Why?  Because lenders have zero emotional attachment to your home.  They only care about market value.  Fair market value.  So even if you find someone willing to pay too much for your home, they will not be able to get financing for it.  Let me repeat, even if you find someone willing to pay too much for your home, they will not be able to get financing for it.

Once again, a great Realtor is worth their weight in gold.  They will give you the straight goods to help you have a successful sale, as quickly as possible and for as much money as possible.

Listing to sell is a whole lot more exciting than listing to sit!