Jenn’s Realtor Tips
Which should I do first – buy my new home or sell this home?
That depends. If you are able to make your purchase without selling your current home, then you may want to go under contract on your purchase first, and list your home shortly thereafter to minimize the amount of time you own 2 properties. However, if you need the cash from the sale of your current home to pay for your new home, then you will want to list this for sale before you start shopping for your next home. In this strong sellers’ market, contingent offers (based on selling your home) are difficult to get accepted, especially if the home you desire is in a multiple offer.
Is it better to move into my new home and clear this home out completely to sell it?
Actually, it is normally better to sell a furnished home so that we can stage each room for its intended use. Your realtor can provide staging tips of what furniture to put where and how to show your home to its’ best advantage.
My kitchen is dated, should I put in a new kitchen?
NEVER put in a new kitchen before listing your home for sale. New kitchens are expensive and you are better off pricing your home for the kitchen you have, rather than buying a new kitchen that might not suit your buyers’ taste. That said, clever refreshing of a tired kitchen can help you maximize your sale price. Consider having the cabinets professionally painted white or pale grey, swapping the handles for brushed nickel or stainless steel, and updating the appliances to matching stainless steel. You may also want to update the backsplash and/or add a makeshift ‘island’ using a standalone kitchen cart. If your cabinets are in great shape and are on-trend for the finish, you may want to consider updating the counters with granite or quartz.
Should I wait for summer to sell?
That depends on how much you enjoy the competition. It’s true many buyers shop in the summer. It’s also true that there is usually the highest volume of resale homes listed in the summer as well. If you have a swimming pool, you will definitely maximize the sale price in the summer. However, if you don’t have a pool think about selling in the early spring months – March or April. These are the months many homebuyers begin their shopping despite the fact that many sellers are not yet ready to list in the Spring. So homes tend to sell quickest and for the most money at this time of year when demand is high and resale homes inventory is low.
Jenn Baniak-Hollands is an Associate Broker and leader of the Hollands Homes team at Keller Williams Realty. She is on a mission to deliver real estate experiences that WOW. In the past few years, she’s helped many buyers and sellers achieve their downsizing real estate goals. Jenn can be contacted at 518-512-7784.
