Tips for Selling Your Home in Winter

Photo Credit: Unsplash Selling a home in winter can be a prime time for homeowners who have done their homework and have a little bit of patience. Winter is generally a slower time of real estate activity as the cold weather and holidays have would-be buyers focused on other things. However, there are still buyers out there who need to purchase a home and with limited inventory, may be looking at yours. Thinking about selling your home during the winter months? Here are some benefits and tips to making it a worthwhile effort.   What are the benefits of selling a home in winter?:   Less inventory. Many homeowners pull their homes off the market or hold off until spring to list due to the colder weather and busyness of the holidays. When selling your home, less inventory means that your house will stand out and face less competition as options will be more limited. Serious buyers brave the cold. Although activity is much slower during the winter months, we see that more serious buyers stay in the house hunting game. These buyers typically have a need to move and are more motivated to make an offer. Winter conveys feelings of nesting. The added ambiance of joy and togetherness due to the holidays and colder weather can help make your home more attractive to buyers.    What to consider when selling a home in Winter: Photo Credit: UnsplashPreparing your home for showings in the winter has a unique set of home preparation reminders. Consider using this checklist to ensure your home is ready to show!   Maintain a comfortable temperature to give a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. 68 degrees tends to be the sweet spot, as it's not too hot to overheat bundled up buyers. Ensure that walkways and driveways are clear of snow and ice to stop slips and falls while boosting curb appeal.  If your home has a gas fireplace, make sure to turn it on for added warmth and ambiance.  Keep snow from piling on the roof and trees, as this can prevent ice dams and other liabilities. When it comes to holiday decor, minimal decorations are okay, but refrain from over-the-top or personal displays.

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Buyer Beware: 5 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Writing an Offer

Writing an offer on your dream home is a delicate dance between paying fair market value for the home and meeting your budget. Working with a skilled realtor is essential in crafting the perfect offer to increase your chances of securing the home. Don’t make these 5 common mistakes when writing an offer:   Not getting pre-approved for a mortgage (if not paying all cash): Getting pre-approved for a mortgage tells the seller you are able to afford the house and shows that your offer is a serious one. In order to get pre-approved, you will need to send financial information to your chosen lender, and you will receive a pre-approval letter that you can send to the seller. This step increases the likelihood of your offer being accepted and improves the strength of your offer. Note that a pre-qualification letter is not the same as a pre-approval letter.   Not being informed on current market conditions: It’s crucial to be well-educated about the market you are purchasing a home in. You’ll want to know if it is a seller’s or buyer’s market (or balanced), how long homes have been on the market, and what comparable homes recently sold for. Working with a knowledgeable realtor is essential in keeping you informed. Making a lowball offer, while it may seem like a great way to save money, can offend the seller or make it appear that you are not serious about the home. A lowball offer may be rejected outright, preventing negotiations from taking place.     Choosing not to work with a real estate agent: Real estate agents are crucial in ensuring you are educated on current market conditions, assist you through the complex offer process, and negotiate as needed. Although you may want to save money in the fees it costs to pay an agent, those who use an agent actually end up saving money on average by receiving a better deal. Experienced agents provide invaluable assistance to home buyers to navigate the offer process and ultimately secure your desired home.   Getting emotionally attached: Falling in love with a home and feeling like you need that exact home can lead to overbidding and spending out of your budget. Although it's easier said than done, try and look at the home objectively. Check market comparisons, potential flaws, and budgets when deciding on a home. Make your offer based on these facts, and try your best to keep the excitement and emotions out of the picture until the home is yours.    Not reviewing the contract thoroughly: There are many different parts of a real estate purchase agreement. Pay close attention to the purchase price, included or excluded items, closing date and costs, contingencies, and earnest money deposit when reviewing your contract. It is extremely useful to have a real estate agent for reading contracts, as they are able to decode complex legal wording and help you understand what you are signing. 

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Things to Consider When Remodeling a Kitchen

Credit: Rene Asmussen The kitchen is the center of a house: it’s where family and friends congregate to cook, relax, and entertain. Updating and remodeling your kitchen can completely change the feel of your home and it is very important to think deeply about the changes you want to make to ensure you create a beautiful and functional kitchen. Here are a few things to keep in mind while planning your remodel!   Budget: First on the list is how much money you are willing to spend on your new kitchen. Are you going to update existing items, such as painting cabinets or changing out sink fixtures? Or do you want to do a larger remodel and break down walls or change the floorplan of the kitchen? It's important to research each item you want to change or update, and look into pricing. Consider making a list of all the items and their respective costs, and see if the total fits within your budget. Watch out for hidden costs such as paying a contractor for bigger changes or if you need to redo plumbing and electrical with the new updates.   How long will you be in the home: If the home you are in is temporary and you are going to be moving in the next five years, now might not be the time to go all out and build your dream kitchen. Saving your money now and spending it on your new home may be a better option. However, this does not mean you shouldn’t still make smaller and more affordable changes to enjoy this kitchen while you are still in it!   How often do you cook: Do you spend your nights cooking gourmet meals or do you find yourself eating out most nights? If the second option sounds more like you, it may not be the most economical choice to spend a lot of money on the newest and greatest appliances that will barely get used. However, if cooking is a passion of yours, it makes more sense to splurge on appliances that will help you hone your cooking skills.   What do you cook: Another thing to consider is what you cook the most, and how you can add things to the kitchen to make these things easier to make. For example, if you cook a lot of pasta, a pot filler faucet over your stove will eliminate the need to carry a heavy pot full of water from the sink every time. Also, consider who cooks - is it typically one person in the kitchen or do you need room for multiple people to cook side by side? It's important to make sure your kitchen is both aesthetically pleasing as well as functional.

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