Why Fall is a Great Time to Sell A Home

Credit: Vlada Karpovich Fall is just around the corner in Boise. The leaves begin to change and the fall smells fill the air. Although the spring market is always spoken about as the best time to sell a home, at Lysi Bishop Real Estate we find the Fall market to be one of our favorites.   Serious buyers are in the market: Many buyers sense the change in season and want to nest just in time for the holidays. This can work to your advantage as a seller because the buyers looking at your home will feel an urgency to choose to move in before the snow hits.   Autumn can add ambiance to your home: Fall colors can make a house feel homey and cozy. Autumn smells in the air and a fireplace going can help buyers envision themselves living in your home. Trees full of leaves changing color can also add to the curb appeal of your home! Just make sure to keep leaves on the ground raked and the gutters clear.    Less competition: With fewer homes for sale in the fall, your home has a better chance of standing out.  Quicker sales can occur because businesses such as home inspectors and mortgage lenders will have fewer customers, and therefore be able to prioritize your home more. This is a major advantage with the fall market!  

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5 Red Flags on a Home Inspection Report

Credit: Nolan Isaac via Unsplash A major step in the home-buying process is getting a home you are interested in buying inspected by a professional home inspector. This process ensures that you know exactly what the issues with the home are, and that you are able to make an educated decision on whether to accept the condition, negotiate for repairs or credits, or walk away altogether. This article walks you through 5 red flags to watch out for on the home inspection report of your potential home that shouldn’t be ignored.   Disclaimer: It is advisable for interested parties, whether engaged in purchasing or selling, to consult with a certified and insured home inspector, in addition to seeking counsel from their designated real estate agent.   Structural damage: Credit: Unsplash Structural damage can be caused by high winds, seismic activity, or flooding in a home and can pose a major issue for the future of the house. Damage to any part of the structure of your home, whether it be load-bearing walls, the roof, or the foundation, can eventually lead to the stability of the home. Damage in the foundation is especially detrimental to a home and can be irreversible. It is crucial to understand the extent of structural damage in the home as well as the cost to return the home to building code and safety standards.   Water damage: Credit: Nolan Isaac via Unsplash Water damage in a home can come from external sources (floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.) or internal (leaky plumbing or a leaky roof). If water leakage is not quickly fixed, it can lead to long-term damage which can include flooded drywall, warped wood and flooring, and the growth of fungus and mold. At its most extreme, water damage can cause a home to need to be gutted and redone completely. Do not overlook water damage in a home inspection report and avoid paying for it later. If water damage was present and remediated, make sure you receive documentation of it from the homeowner (or yourself if you’ve had the work completed).    Mold: Credit: Unsplash Caused by moisture and water in a home, mold can pose serious health risks. There is an array of different kinds of mold that can grow on almost any surface, from under carpets, in insulation, in attics and basements, and in walls. If mold is in an unseen location, it can grow rapidly and spread throughout the home. Removal of widespread mold can be an extremely costly endeavor, and it is important to take this into consideration when looking at your home inspection report. It’s important to note that nearly all homes will have mold, however, the different species and amount can determine if remediation is required. Like with water damage remediation, get documentation from the homeowner (or yourself if you’ve had the work completed).    Electrical Issues: Credit: Unsplash Electrical issues in a home can vary from heat-producing outlets, flickering lights, aluminum wiring, improperly grounded lines, or counterfeit electrical devices. Although these problems can seem small at first, it can be costly to replace and redo flawed electrical work or even rewire the home in the worst-case scenario. Without being fixed, electrical problems can lead to high energy bills or, in the worst case, a fire.   Pests: Credit: Unsplash Pests may be small, but can be quite problemsome for a house. Pests include carpenter ants, termites, cockroaches, mice, moths, and spiders among others. Wood-destroying insects such as termites are especially damaging and can eat away at the structural integrity of your home. Mice can chew at electrical and create other health problems. Exterminating pests can be very costly, toxic, and in some cases, present larger structural issues that you want to avoid. Annual extermination for ants and spiders is normal, however, look for large infestations to understand the scale of the problem.

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Most Popular Exterior House Colors of 2023

  Credit: Doug Petersen Photography   Thinking about repainting your home’s exterior soon? There are several variables to consider when selecting the right color for your home, including: homeowner’s association restrictions, neighboring property colors, and what’s on trend.  In the past few years, we saw the rise of more modern colors: dark grays and navys with bold accents on the door. This year, top trending colors for exteriors leans more towards tradition and neutrality. The rise in popularity of the Modern Farmhouse has no doubt influenced the classic white look, while materials cost could be an influencing factor for the subtle palette.  Here are this year’s Top 5 House Exterior Colors determined by a recent home study conducted by The Harris Poll and commissioned by Alside.   Credit: https://www.nar.realtor/     1) Off-White/Cream Off-white/cream colors are the most popular exterior home colors in America at the moment, almost doubling the percentage of the runner up color at 20% popularity from the survey. How can you go wrong with a subtle, neutral color? Credit: Ronnie George                                             2) White  White is the second most popular color in America coming in at 14% popularity. Credit: Doug Petersen Photography   3) Light Gray Light Gray ranks at 12% popularity Credit: Sieuwert Otterloo   4) Light Brown  Coming in right behind light gray is light brown at 11% popular vote. Credit: Nikolai Artamonov   5) Medium Blue Breaking the neutral palette trend, medium blue ranks 9% in popularity. Credit: Doug Petersen Photography   6) Light Blue Ranking 6% popularity Credit: Curtis Adams   7) Medium Brown Ranking at 6% Credit: Clay Elliot    8) Medium Gray Coming in at 5% Credit: Doug Petersen Photography   9) Green Ranking 4% popularity Credit: Doug Petersen Photography   10) Red Coming in towards the end at 3% Credit: Zac Gudakov   11) Dark Gray, Dark Blue & Dark Brown Dark Gray - 2% Dark Blue - 2% Dark Brown - 1%   Credit: Jens Mahnke  

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