Time to upgrade your home's curb appeal

The spring buying season is underway, and as it progresses curb appeal will emerge from its winter hibernation as a significant factor in luring potentialbuyers to their ideal property.

Curb appeal is often what draws buyers to a particular home. An alluring walkway, an array of colorful flowers, an inviting nighttime glow and other visually pleasing characteristics can draw more people, and subsequently increase competition for the property and raise its overall value. Curb appeal is a powerful tool homeowners can use to maximize the offers they receive. If you are a seller looking for home staging ideas, take advantage of curb appeal projects to make your property appear perfect inside and out.

Exterior design trends tend to change annually, similar to their interior counterparts. Here are a few of the curb appeal projects buyers will be drawn to this spring:

1. Stick with sustainability
Sustainability is popular among homeowners and buyers, and will remain that way for some time. Luckily, it isn’t all that difficult to boost curb appeal in a sustainable way. One perpetually popular curb appeal project is a well-lit walkway. When potential buyers drive by the property at night they will be enamored with the sight of it. Solar powered path lights can kick up your curb appeal in a sustainable and affordable way.

Additionally, homeowners may also want to try using sustainable materials. Walkways made with reclaimed stone or siding composed of recycled materials will appeal to buyers with sustainability on the mind.

2. Add artistic detailingThis year homebuyers will be on the hunt for artistic and unique exterior detailing. Craftsman-style accents and additions are growing more popular, and help properties stand out from other homes around them. Wood porch columns with decorative bases or colored detailing will draw potential buyers in for a closer look. Sometimes the smallest details are what make the biggest differences.

3. Buyers love low maintenanceA front yard should look lovely, but require little work. This means choosing flowers and other plants that are hardy enough to survive with minimal attention, and products that rarely, if ever, need repairs or touch ups. From gutters to gardens, there should be minimal upkeep required. Yards that look like they need to be completely renovated are more likely to turn potential buyers off before they ever step foot inside the house.

4. Steal buyers’ hearts with stone and brickThis spring, stone and brick are bound to be popular materials in exterior design. Natural stone and brick have an affluent appearance that can improve the value of a home. Homeowners can even mix the two together for a unique and attractive combination.

Curb appeal goes a long way during the spring and summer buying seasons, and with the former already underway it is time for homeowners to start working on their yards.

For a personal look at your unique home, call text or email

Reasons to List Your Home Now

3 Charts That Scream ‘List Your Home Today’

In school we all learned the Theory of Supply and Demand. When the demand for an item is greater than the supply of that item, the price will surely rise.

SUPPLY

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) recently reported that the inventory of homes for sale stands at a 4.4-month supply. This is considerably lower than the 6-month inventory necessary for a normal market.

DEMAND

Every month NAR reports on the amount of buyers that are actually out in the market looking for homes, or foot traffic. As seen in the graph below, buyer demand in February significantly outpaced the last six months.

Many buyers are being confronted with a very competitive market in which they must compete with other buyers for their dream home (if they even are able to find a home they wish to purchase).

Listing your house for sale now will allow you to capitalize on the shortage of homes for sale in the market, which will translate into a better pricing situation.

HOME EQUITY

Many homeowners underestimate the amount of equity they currently have in their home. According to a recent Fannie Mae study, 37% of homeowners believe that they have more than 20% equity in their home. In reality, CoreLogic’s latest Equity Report tells us that 72.6% actually do!

Many homeowners who are undervaluing their home equity may feel trapped in their current home, which may be contributing to the lack of inventory in the market.

Bottom Line

If you are debating selling your home this year, let's meet up to evaluate the equity you have in your home, as well as the opportunities available in your market.

National trends don't always apply to our local market. Locally the constant refrain in the most popular price ranges is "I can't find any homes for my Buyer"

To see how this affects your unique situation, call, text or email.

Happy Easter

One thing not to worry about when selling your home

Don't believe the rumors.  It's not overly difficult for you or for the potential buyer of your home to get a mortgage

So why not move forward toward the home you really want. Call, text or email me.