Wisconsin Real Estate BlogRecently posted or modified blog posts in the category - Selling Your Homehttps://www.searchmidwesthomes.com/blog/Copyright SearchMidwestHomes.com2023-10-11T16:11:05-07:00tag:searchmidwesthomes.com,2012-09-20:20619Why selling your home during the holidays is the ultimate cheat code!Don't Wait Until After the Holidays to Sell Your Home - Yes, DURING THE WINTER MONTHS!
Prospective homeowners in Wisconsin, we've got some warm weather advice for you - it's time to put on your Santa hat and start selling your home now, rather than waiting until after the holidays. While it may seem counterintuitive to list your home in the chilly winter months, we've got some frosty-fresh reasons why it's the smart move.
1. Less Competition, More Attention
Picture this: you're at a holiday party, and everyone's gathered around the snack table. The cookies and punch are disappearing faster than you can say "Ho, ho, ho!" Now, think of the real estate market in Wisconsin during the holidays. Most homeowners are busy decking the halls, not the 'For Sale' sign. That means less competition for you!
With fewer homes on the market, potential buyers have fewer options to choose from. Your home can shine in the spotlight, attracting serious buyers who are eager to wrap up a deal before winter's end.
2. Serious Buyers Brave the Cold
Who in their right mind would be out house-hunting in our freezing Wisconsin winters? Serious buyers, that's who! If someone is willing to slog through snowdrifts, frigid temperatures and that wonderful combination of snow and roadsand to view your home, they mean business. You won't waste time entertaining tire kickers who are merely browsing through properties for fun.
3. Beware the Springtime Tire Kickers
Which leads us to: the springtime surge! Come spring, the market tends to flood with looky loos, nosy neighbors, and folks with a lot of free time on their hands. Unfortunately it's true, there are always pools of buyers that are not genuinely interested in buying but are just there for a leisurely stroll through your lovely garden. Listing your home before the holidays helps you avoid these time-wasters.
4. Deck the Halls and Sell Your Walls
Holiday decorations can turn your home into a cozy, inviting haven for prospective buyers. The warm glow of twinkle lights, the smell of fresh-baked cookies, and the festive décor make it easier for potential buyers to picture themselves living in your home. A good agent knows to take advantage of a homeowner who already has their tree up by letting the buyer know that they can put their tree there too! So, let your halls be decked, and let your home enchant!
5. Predicting the Unpredictable: Interest Rates
Nobody has a crystal ball to predict what interest rates will look like next year. Selling your home now means locking in current rates. Waiting until after the holidays could mean higher rates that put a dent in your home's appeal to buyers.<br /><br />
6. Stand Out in a Winter Wonderland
As the seasons shift, most homeowners are content to enjoy the autumn hues and the summer's last rays. They'll wait until after the holidays to list their homes, and by then, the landscape will be cloaked in white. Or worse...Your proactive approach sets you apart from the crowd. By starting the process now, you can capture your home's true essence. Beautiful green or autumn surroundings, and outdoor spaces that invite potential buyers to envision themselves living in your haven. Don't miss out on this opportunity to showcase your property's full potential while the foliage is hiding under the newest blanket of snow.
So, don't hesitate—start your home-selling adventure this winter! It's time to make your real estate dreams come true in a snow-kissed wonderland. Happy selling! 🏠❄️🎁2023-10-10T14:00:00-07:002023-10-11T16:11:05-07:00Marine Yootag:searchmidwesthomes.com,2012-09-20:10979Staging a Home for SuccessStaging a Home for Showings
<br />When it’s time to sell your home, it’s important that it appears in tip-top shape for prospective buyers. When you stage the home, you arrange furniture and décor in an appealing way that represents what the new owner can possibly do in each room. It allows them to picture themselves living in the home rather than trying to imagine the scale of different kinds of furniture. Get a head start on your moving by packing away items that don’t show your home to<br />its full potential.
<br />Staging Must-Do’s for Success
<br />Don’t Neglect the Outside: Make sure your home looks well-maintained on the exterior. Keeping up with curb appeal sets a great first impression when buyers get their initial glimpse of the house. Clip the lawn regularly, trim existing hedges, and weed any flowerbeds. Clean the windows and consider power-washing your siding and pavement. Clear the outside of your house<br />from any debris or clutter.
<br />Clear the Clutter: The last thing house shoppers want to see is a house full of stuff. If you are still living in the home, this part of staging can be the most challenging. Still, you can use this as an opportunity to pack before your expected moving day. Store your things in an offsite location or in areas of the home intended for storage, like attics, basements, or closets.
<br />Give it a Clean Sweep: Nothing is worse than walking into a home for sale that is dirty. Potential buyers want to see the house looking its best, and don’t want to think about the work they may need to put into it before they can move in. While you might think this involves repair work only, it’s important that floors be cleanly swept and mopped, surfaces be free of crumbs and smudges, and any odors from cooking or pets be eradicated.
<br />Furniture with Function: Buyers want to see each room being utilized with its intended functions, so that they can envision themselves doing the same thing in the home. This means you should only have furniture that serves a purpose in each room, and you should be sure to keep the amount of furniture to a minimum. You should also look to stage the home with furniture that fits the scale of the room. For instance, you wouldn’t want to put a California King bed in a room that is only 80 square feet large.
Minimize Décor: To stage a home in the most appealing way, you should remove all pictures of yourself and your family as well as any religious décor. After you’ve painted the home neutral colors, you should only use décor that enhances each room. Select a single piece of art that is not too busy. Be sure to pick out something that is sized appropriately for the room. Wall hangings are more appealing than knickknacks, like candles or statues. You can utilize some healthy plants that are small, but limit these to just a few for the whole house.
Hire a Professional: If figuring out how to properly stage your home is challenging for you, consider hiring a professional staging company or working with your real estate agent. Either of these entities will have the knowledge of current staging trends to set your house sale up for success. Sometimes they can even lend or lease items to you that will perfectly make your home appeal to future buyers.2021-03-31T06:24:00-07:002021-03-28T13:40:17-07:00Austin Duerrtag:searchmidwesthomes.com,2012-09-20:4445Why You Should Consider Selling in the Winter<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/1159/image/selling-in-the-winter-attracts-serious-buyers.jpg" alt="Selling In Winter Attracts Serious Buyers" title="Selling In Winter Attracts Serious Buyers" height="410" width="750" />
The season you sell your home can have an impact on how much you get for your home and how quickly it sells. The season that has the most success in selling homes is spring. This is a good time of year for families moving to new school districts and is also more convenient weather for moving. Because of this trend, most people will recommend waiting to list your home until after the winter is over. Avoiding the winter is a huge misconception in the housing industry and can cause homeowners to miss out on opportunities.
Selling in the winter can give you a few advantages. There will be fewer houses on the market since most people assume winter is a bad time to sell. This gives your home more attention. Potential buyers are always looking no matter the time of year. Keeping your house on the market in the winter might bring the right buyer to your door. Real estate agents also tend to be less busy during these months and commit more time to getting your home sold.
Studies have shown winter buyers are buying because they need to move right away either for a relocation or personal situation. They will want to close quickly and allow for a much smoother sale.
Bottom Line
If you need to sell your home right away, or have some time but want to see what is out there, consider listing in the winter. Most homeowners who are going to sell will list their home in the spring, making for a competitive market. The winter allows buyers who are in a hurry to move consider your home and sell for more money than you would have in the spring.2018-11-28T14:03:00-07:002018-11-28T14:04:59-07:00Michelle Yoo