Is spring closer than we think? The forecast might still include snow, but the calendar is moving forward and you might have less time than you think to get your home on the market before the busy spring season.

Many sellers feel that the spring is the best time to place their home on the market, as buyer demand traditionally increases at that time of year. However, listing your home during the next six weeks… before spring hits… also has advantages.

At River Valley, we are seeing a steady flow of prospective purchasers. Foot traffic at our current listings is strong, and Open Houses have been well attended. Our Google Analytics of the River Valley Website are indicating a steady flow of visitors from a multitude of marketing platforms. These buyers are ready, willing and able and are just waiting for the right home. Inventory levels are low, and in some areas there are not enough homes for sale to satisfy the number of buyers in the market.

We are seeing a pent up desire for homeowners to move. While the economy has been in a downturn, many people held off on selling their homes. But during this time, life went on…births, deaths, job changes, and retirement. Now that they see a stronger housing market, many of these homes will be coming to the market this Spring. Therefore, the choices that buyers have will increase in the spring. Consider getting a head start on this potential inventory by being the first in your neighborhood to list your home for sale.

If you are selling your current home in order to move up, and will require a mortgage to do so, your housing expense will likely be more a year from now. With interest rates projected to be a full percent higher by the end of 2015, if you sell before the competition hits the market, you have a better chance of locking in the current low rates to purchase your next home.

You can capture indoor photographs now, like this listing in Delaware township…

If you have invited a Realtor to your home and completed the punch list on your Pre Listing Evaluation, discussed here, then it is worth considering accelerating the introduction of your home to the real estate market.

…until the exterior is picture-perfect later this spring.

Sometimes, exterior projects can’t be completed until the weather breaks. If that’s the case, work with your Realtor on a plan to be ready as soon as possible. For example, at River Valley we have our photographer do the interior photos now, so that they are selected, optimized and ready to go. We can complete the floor plans, write the copy, and complete the extensive marketing materials that highlight your improvements and upgrades. Then, once the weather breaks and the painting and power washing is completed, we can pop over to do a quick set of exterior photos and activate the listing within a few days of the work being completed. Rest assured, we’ll revisit the property to do another set of exteriors once the leaves come in and the grass greens up. Having seasonally appropriate photos of your home online is very important, and while it’s a bit more effort and expense on our part, it keeps your property looking fresh and current for the new buyers entering the market every day.

While it is accurate to say that Buyers tend to surge on the market in April, the process of listing your home needs to begin NOW in order to get a jump on that activity. At River Valley, our marketing programs are on various platforms. When we introduce your property to active Buyers, we do so in a coordinate way that maximizes your exposure…but that also takes some time. The sooner you initiate this process, the more likely you will be to reach your objective of selling your current home and moving on to your new home or destination.

Still need help? Contact Kim Ward Bacso and the River Valley Realty staff for more expert advice on listing your home here.

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