Summer is a time to relax. Take a much-needed vacation, spend some time with the family eating BBQ and making s’mores around a campfire. It is a time to slow down a little bit due to the heat and humidity of the weather. Summer is also a time when the real estate market tends to heat up. Summer seems to be one of the best times of the year to buy a home and move your family.
The housing market has also been heating up around Kansas CIty. According to Zillow, home prices in KC have gone up 10.4% in the past year and the prices are expected to rise another 6% over the next 12 months. If you have been thinking about putting your house on the market to take advantage of the uptick and increase your chances of selling, getting your house ready to sell is one of the first steps to selling it.
Get a Pre-Inspection
A pre-inspection will help you discover issues of your home that need your immediate attention. Finding a roof leak or a faulty wire now is better than having potential home buyers find it in an inspection. Most home sales are contingent on an inspection. Anything that is found in an inspection can be grounds for the contract being canceled. Buying a home is both an emotional and logical decision and making sure that your home and the systems inside and outside are in good working order before you put it in the market increases your chances that the sale will go through as planned.
What people buy
Curb Appeal
Driving up to the house and what the house looks like from the sidewalk and from the front of the home is the home’s ‘Curb Appeal’. Make sure that the driveway, sidewalks, and steps are in good working order. Make sure they aren’t cracked or sinking. If they are, fix them right away. You don’t want any negatives against the house before your buyers get in the front door!
Kitchens
Update the cabinets, hardware, and appliances. When it comes to purchasing a home, having an updated kitchen goes a long way for buyers. If you spend any time watching HGTV, you know how important a kitchen is to the home and where it is on the list of rooms that people evaluate a home by. If your kitchen is in need of a makeover, make sure you find a respectable person to complete the remodel.
Bathrooms
Having an adequate number of bathrooms and an adequate number of sinks in the bathrooms is another important feature that can help sell a home. Home buyers look at the ease of getting ready in the morning, how the bathroom will function for them as a couple or family. Not having s shower and a bathtub can be a mitigating factor for a lot of buyers. Natural sunlight, countertop space, and storage are also considerations.
Neighborhoods
Where the neighborhood is located can be a plus for some buyers. Is the home located next to shopping or amenities such as parks or schools? Does it have a good reputation for safety? Is there easy access to highways and transportation? Buyers know they can’t have everything on their wish list and if the home has curb appeal, a great kitchen, and good bathrooms, they may be able to overlook other items that may be missing!
Outdoor Living
Home buyers want to be able to extend their living spaces outdoors. Make sure your patio or deck is inviting. Make sure that your concrete patio is not cracked or sinking. Buyers want to be able to see themselves entertaining and enjoying the deck or patio outside. Get an attractive outdoor dining set and some colorful pillows and accent the space with potted plants and accessories. You can take them with you to your next home when you sell! Give your buyers a good reason to choose your home by creating a space for them to enjoy.
In order to take advantage of the increased activity in the housing market, you need to be ready to sell. Take care of the issues that an inspection may turn up that can derail the sale of your home. A hundred people can come through your house but as they say in real estate, it only takes one buyer!
This article was originally published in June 2013 and has been updated.
I see the activity as the real estate agents in the area are getting busy again. Our homeowners are also calling! This is all good and our weather has been awesome!
Homeowners do buy kitchens and master suites. If your home needs updating in one of these two places, make sure you make a plan to start the remodeling process. Most remodeling companies can work with any budget and make differences that can stand out for a potential buyer.
If your HVAC system is older, that can sometimes keep people from making a purchasing decision. They add the cost of a new system into the purchase price knowing that they’ll have to replace it sooner or later.
I look at how a home also functions. Does it have good spaces to spend time with family. The other aspects are also important but if you really can’t live in it- it isn;t a home for me.
I always feel more confident all around when housing picks up. The seems to be an excellent indicator about our confidence toward the economy. It encourages everyone to continue with their buying purchases. Which is good for everyone.