5 things to consider when selling a home this summer
elling your home can be no easy feat, especially during the hot summer months. However, there are a number of reasons that this summer could be the best time to put your house on the market.
According to the National Association of Realtors, 50 percent of homes are sold during the summer months.
“In summer, the frenzy of the spring buying season has ended, so you may have fewer houses to compete with for buyers. Also, potential buyers will have received their tax-refund checks by summer, and that may be just what they need to pull together a down payment,” said Maurice Taylor, 2017 Arkansas Realtors Association President. “Selling in summer also gives families time to settle in [their new home] before school starts. All of these reasons make summer a perfect time to market your home for sale.”
Here are a few tips from the Arkansas Realtors Association to make sure your house is sold for a great price and in plenty of time for fall:
• Air conditioning: During the summer, your house can become hot and stuffy. Keep the air conditioning at a reasonable temperature — not so cold that buyers will be searching for their jackets, but cool enough that they won’t want to go back into the heat outside.
• Summer plans: Plan your annual vacation in advance so that you can list your home accordingly. Timing is everything when it comes to selling a home, so make sure that when offers start coming in, you aren’t out of town.
• Landscaping: Your front yard is the first thing people notice about your house, so make sure your lawn and flower beds aren’t suffering in the summer heat.
Keep the grass trimmed by mowing often, plant fresh flowers, and remove any debris from the lawn. Also, clean your deck, porch, patio or outdoor kitchen, and repaint or make any necessary repairs. This is your outdoor space’s chance to shine, so keep it in top condition all season.
• Provide refreshments: Make sure to greet potential buyers the way you would guests, and provide drinks or snacks. During the hot summer days, bring out a cold pitcher of lemonade or a cooler full of bottled water for the buyers. Set out some fruit or other light snacks that are seasonally appropriate.
Anything you can do to make visitors linger a little longer could help you sell your home quicker.
• Work with a Realtor: Finally, the ARA reminds sellers that all real estate is local, so it’s important to work with a Realtor who is familiar with your community. These professionals know the pricing strategies, buyer preferences and marketing approaches that will achieve the best results in your area.
Keeping these tips in mind will help you increase your chances of quickly finding the right buyer for your home this summer.
House to House is distributed by the Arkansas Realtors Association. For more