Spring Market. It’s the busiest time of the year for real estate sales. But why? A lot of people think that it’s because it’s the season when homes “show” their best, are the most enticing, with their fresh green lawns and blooming lilacs. Even that’s not true; more than anything it’s a matter of timing a summer move for all the families who have children in school. So while it may be the busiest, is it necessarily the best time of year for you to sell your home? There are a lot of myths home sellers believe about Spring Market. Let’s dispel some :)
Myth #1 - Your House Will Look Its Best in Spring
Are you sure? Or --- what’s it going to take for you (time plus financial expense) to achieve that manicured, pristine, storybook Spring look? When you sell a home in the winter, no one expects you to have a green lawn, or flowers and healthy shrubs or a perfectly staged deck and patio. Snow and cold weather actually hide a lot of imperfections, and thus if your home’s exterior is due for some love, Old Man Winter may actually be your best friend!
Myth #2 - You Need to Wait til Spring So You Can Have a Summer Closing
Nope. All terms are negotiable, and there’s no law that you need to have a 60 day closing. There is enough interest in this market that you could easily stipulate a 90 day closing, or a 120 day closing, or go ahead and close but also rent back for a month or two so that you can stay in the house until the kiddos finish their school year. It’s a seller’s market and sellers get to call the shots. Your specific closing date requirement won’t work for some buyers, but it will work for enough.
Myth #3 - There will Be More Buyers Looking for Homes in the Spring
Well, maybe and maybe not - interest rates have an impact here. But there are PLENTY of ready, willing and able buyers househunting right now, and frankly you just don’t need hundreds of buyers to traipse through your house. In fact, you shouldn’t even want that. Aim for quality, not quantity.
Truth #1 - You Will Have More Competition in the Spring.
That’s a definite. And it will not help your sale one bit. In fact, when buyers have more choices, your resulting sale is only negatively affected - price, terms, process - the whole enchilada. An increase on the supply side of things does not help sellers. Period.
Truth #2 - Interest Rates are Rising
It can be documented through recent decades that interest rates do inch up through the Spring. The hikes may not be dramatic, but they can be enough to take some buyers out of the running, or slow down appreciating home values. And of course this should be of concern to you especially if you are also buying.
Truth #3 - If You’re Ready to Sell, There’s No Good Reason to Wait.
The Simple Fact is that market conditions have NEVER favored the seller more than they do today in 2022 - at least not in the 39 years that I’ve been selling real estate in MetroWest. If you’re waiting, if something’s holding you back, we should be talking about how to eliminate those obstacles in ways that still work for you!
I’m a solution finder, and I want my seller clients to be able to take advantage of the extraordinary opportunity this market is serving up.
Let’s strategize!
You can always reach me at charlenefrary@gmail.com, fraryhomes.com, or call/text 508-330-3252.