If you have been wanting to sell your house for a while but just couldn’t get into favorable conditions, 2018 is an opportune time to sell it. Here are the top 5 reasons why:

Reason #1: Low inventory

If you know about the concept of supply and demand, you’d know that when something is in short supply, its value tends to increase. The REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey showed that low inventory in the homes for sale has been a major issue affecting transactions. This puts sellers in a position of advantage because as the number of homes for sale is low, the value of those that you could put up for sale will swell. You could also take note that Historical NAR data shows that housing prices appreciate by 5% when supply falls below 6 months. That means that you could expect the median prices for housing to be higher.

Reason #2: Stronger job market

It’s the American dream to own a house, and there’s a list of gains that a homeowner has such as tax credits, equity building, and just the simple but joyful experience of finally having a house that they can call their own and customize to their heart’s desires. These advantages will be more appealing now that consumer confidence has risen. This is caused by a decrease in unemployment and an increase in wages.  These favorable conditions may propel buyers to invest in the housing market.

Reason #3: Strong demand for housing

Based on the responses reported in the September 2017 REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey, buyer conditions were rated “stable” to “very strong” in all states. In the midst of low interest rates, rental appreciation, improving job market, and the general confidence in the economy, the demand for buying houses is strong in this time. There has also been a reported decrease in the expected number of days it takes to sell homes. In September 2017, it took just 34 days for properties to stay in the market.

Reason #4: A spike in housing prices

As mentioned in the previous passages, short supply tends to result in an increase in value. Homeowners are now seeing a return to positive equity as real estate values have increased over the last two years. According to NAR, the median price of single-family homes sold in August 2017 is $255,550, which is 5.6% higher than a year ago. If you’re a seller whose property value dropped during the recession, you could benefit from these high housing prices.

Reason #5: Renting is becoming less affordable

Another thing that could benefit you as a seller is the rising rent prices. According to NAR, over the years, and in many parts of the country, specifically in the Northeast, South, and Midwest regions, it’s cheaper to buy a house than to rent one. This drives buyers to opt for owning a property rather than to have their money put into something that would not build their equity.

Staging your home helps you build that memorable first impression for potential buyers. You have to showcase your home’s strength and downplay its weaknesses. Staging is also especially important in slow markets with high inventory and many competing homes. Heed these simple yet effective staging tips that may just help you close the sale.

1. Declutter, Declutter, Declutter

Get rid of your old items and things you don’t necessarily need. Give yourself a rule that when a new thing comes, the old one must go. Organize your shelves to show off how much storage you really have, as prospective buyers love homes with lots of storage spaces. Clearing away your clutter will definitely help make the house look tidier and bigger.

2. Place a Welcome Mat

An enticing entrance is key when you’re luring prospective buyers. A new welcome mat that complements the style of your home can easily convince them to see more. Remember, first impressions are always important. So adding fresh potted plants to an entry area could also create a relaxing atmosphere on the way in.

3. Swap Personal Photos with Artwork

Replacing those personal pictures of yours and your family with pieces of artwork will help your potential buyers envision themselves living in your home. You can opt to buy paintings of landscape scenes, modern shapes or floral motifs at thrift shops to create a focal point for your home. You can also print out inspirational travel images to display a certain lifestyle.  

4. Refresh With Paint

Put a fresh coat of paint in white or neutral colors to give new life to outdated doors, walls, and casing. It will make the house look cleaner and more contemporary.

5. Give Importance to Home Lighting

The secret to a great staged home that looks warm and welcoming is great lighting. Nobody wants to go in a house that projects a dim vibe just because it is improperly lighted. Increase the wattage in your lamps or fixtures and put them in key areas. Also open up windows and curtains to let the sunshine in and naturally brighten up the whole room.

6. Group Furniture Away From Walls

Move away from the common idea that rooms will feel larger and be easier to use if all the furniture is pushed against the walls. Instead, reposition sofas and chairs into conversational groups and place pieces of furniture away from the walls. It will help make the space more user-friendly and make the room seem bigger.

7. Transform Old or Unused Rooms

Repurpose an extra room into a space that will certainly add value to your home. You can turn that old junk room into a mini library with a comfortable reading spot by placing a bookshelf, a comfortable armchair and a small table. Or turn it into a yoga room or a mini entertainment hub. Either way, it will help the potential buyers envision the room with a special purpose that will suit their lifestyle.

8. Recycle Your Resources

Look for ways to salvage old materials to save money. Repurpose old junk and turn them into something new and useful, like making headboards out of old doors or turning strips of hardwood flooring into new fences.

9. Arrange Decorative Displays and Group Them into Three’s

Assembling classy and colorful displays, such as vases, lanterns, books and other decorative items, atop dressers and counters could give your house a cozy and relaxing look. It will also increase the room’s general appeal. Arrange them in odd numbers, preferably in three’s, and in varying heights and shapes, while keeping them in the same color family.  You can also try to mix and match items from craft stores to create a unique but modern look.

10. Decorate the Bathroom with White Linens

Tidy up your washroom by using white towels, bath mats and shower curtains for that clean and elegant look. Take it a bit further by creating spa-like displays, such as adding candles, fresheners and special soaps. Stack hand towels neatly near the sink and complement it with other accessories.

11. Refurbish the Kitchen

The first thing to do when staging your kitchen for homebuyers is to keep the countertops nice and clear. Put only a few items as displays, or center a bowl of fresh fruits or a vase with flowers to add a touch of color. If you can’t afford new doors or cabinets, refresh the old ones with paint that match your kitchen walls.

12. Tend Your Yard and Improve Your Curb Appeal

Curb appeal is important when attracting buyers, so bring out a nice color into your walkway that will make it more appealing. You can also grace your yard with potted plants and flowers in bloom, depending on the season.

Whether it is your starter house or you’ve done it before, selling your home is one of the most stressful events in life. In fact, surveys found that selling a property is seen as more stressful than buying one. You can expect a lot of pain, anxiety and frustration as you go through the process. You may be dealing with solicitors and paperwork that seem to have no end. However, staying focused and positive as you navigate through this challenging phase is important. Take a deep breath and consider these simple yet useful ways to help you deal with the stress of selling your property.

1. Hire a realtor to sell your house.

When you hire a licensed real estate agent in your area, you have every right to certain expectations and requirements. The realtor will guide you through various business arrangements that will help you be at ease. Avoid hiring a relative or a friend to list your home at all costs, as it may add more tension in between. The process of listing and closing is tough enough without you worrying about any personal relations being affected.

2. Declutter your home.

Even before listing your house, get rid of the things you don’t necessarily want to keep once you move. It will eventually help you clean and tidy your place. Never leave the dishes in the kitchen, keep up with the laundry and vacuuming, and clean the bathrooms thoroughly. If this is too much of a task for you, you may consider hiring cleaning help during this transition period. Keeping things tidy will help lessen the stress when you get a quick call from your realtor for a house showing for potential buyers.

3. Take a day trip or plan a vacation.

You may not consider it at first, but planning that vacation as soon as you list your house will work wonders. It is because the first few weekends your house is on the market is typically when it is going to get the most action. Plan a day trip or an all-day activity, such as a visit to a museum or a weekend getaway. If you are not living there, your realtor can schedule open houses and showings at any time of the day. You don’t have to drop everything to get out of the house for an unexpected showing. Think of this time as an investment on your personal well-being by getting your mind off the house sale for a bit.

4. Maintain a healthy lifestyle.

One of the best ways to manage stress when selling your home is adapting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Get plenty of exercise and sleep, eat healthy foods and drink more water. Walk for an hour every day or take your kids to the park and have a valuable time together. Those extra efforts will keep you physically and mentally healthy despite this tedious process.

5. Prepare as much documentation as possible.

Selling a house definitely involves a great deal of paperwork. Sometimes you’ll need to be ready to present all those documents at a very short notice. Preparing the necessary documents will save you tons of work and time as the selling continues. Get in contact with your solicitor, find your mortgage documents, and be certain you have copies of title deeds and other necessary papers, including energy performance certificates, planning permission documents, gas safety inspection certifications, and others.

6. Accept the facts and be flexible.

According to HealthStatus, any disruption of your routine causes stress. Moving disrupts the entire family, and you also have to deal with the packing. The longer your house is on the market, the more pain and frustration you will need endure. Even after all the cleaning and preparations you’ve done, always remember that selling a house takes time. There’s a strong chance that your home won’t sell on the first open house so remember to have realistic expectations. This could help alleviate the stress you’re already experiencing. Stay positive and trust on your realtor and the value they’ve provided to your home.

You might have expected that your house would sell for exactly what you set the price for, and a buyer making an offer for much less could be pretty frustrating. So what exactly makes for a lowball offer? Typically its 25 percent or less below list. But with all things being unequal, what makes an offer a lowball may vary from market to market and price range to price range.

You could know off the bat when an offer is just downright ridiculous, but it’s still best to not let your emotions get the better of you and consult with your agent because they might have a better gauge and understanding as to how offers go. It’s tempting to block off further negotiation with buyers who make such offers but remember to keep your calm because after all, you are engaging in business. It could be that your buyer may have just gotten bad advice from people around them on how they should price their offer, so it’s still advisable to keep communication lines open. The offer may have not started on the right foot, but tables can be turned if you just know how to negotiate.

Don’t waste your time thinking how you might be perceived. Consider all offers with a cool head and you might end up with a good deal. You can have your agent ask the buyer’s end on their reasons for making an offer lower than the asking price. Knowing their answer could actually be beneficial to you; you could view your property using a different lens. Are there parts in the house that needs fixing? Has the house been for sale for longer than the ideal time? Knowing the answers to questions such as those would help you evaluate just what you need to improve on it so that it could look more appealing to the market.

A trusty and experienced agent could spot when a buyer – despite making a low offer – is smitten with the house and are willing to raise their offer.

If you’re going to make a counter offer, it’s best to present it with data such as a market’s list-to-sales price ratio. Also, you can have your agent make a written document containing the best comparable homes to yours. Include the following statistics from two months ago to the same measurements today:

a.) Number of similar homes on the market.

b.) Number of similar homes sold and closed since the listing’s inception.

c.) Number of listings that expired unsold.

d.) Number of pending transactions.

e.) Number of new similar listings (your competition) with the data sheets and pricing

By knowing all these information, you would have an wise estimate on the lowest and highest price you can expect.

If you’re about to sell your home, having it in top shape will definitely up your chances of getting it sold quickly. It shouldn’t just be about making it look beautiful; you have to consider functionality as a major aspect in a buyer’s decision. A buyer will most likely have a professional home inspector check for faults in your home, so it’s advisable for you (with the help of your agent) to address problems beforehand.

1. Paint – Doing this will instantly revamp your home, and it’s one of the most cost-effective methods into making your house look appealing to buyers. Light-colored, neutral tones make your rooms look more spacious and it also makes it look as if it’s blank canvas, where your buyers can help picture how they want it to look once they move in.

2. Kitchen – The kitchen is one of the most functional spaces in a home. You don’t have to stuff it with new appliances to make it look like a dream kitchen, but just make sure to address problems regarding usability. Leaking faucets and old sinks must be repaired, and the dishwasher or range that is out of shape should be replaced. Also check if hinges or tracking in your drawers and cupboards need fixing.

3. Flooring – No one wants to live in a home with sub-par flooring. Buyers prefer hardwood floors, so if your house has that and it’s in good condition, make sure to make it known by removing carpeting. But if you don’t, there are a number of low-cost options such wood plank tiles or highly upgraded laminated flooring.

4. Bathroom – Just like the kitchen, the bathroom is a very functional space in a home. Check for leaky faucets and if necessary, replace caulking in the areas like shower, sink, and toilet to help in keeping the moisture out. Also keep in mind that making it clean goes a long way. Have the toilet as white as possible, and have your grouts steam-cleaned.

5. Roof – If your roof is in bad shape, it’s advisable to cater to this before you set your house up for sale so that renegotiation and price reduction won’t be on the table once a buyer makes an offer.

6. Exterior – Your curb is where buyers get a first impression of your home. Include fences in your paint job, patch up cement cracks in sidewalks, and resurface asphalt driveways if necessary. If you have extra cash to spare, add in bright flowers and plants to spruce up your curb.

7. Lighting – The lights sets the atmosphere of the home – the brighter they are, the more enticing and welcoming your rooms will look. Make sure that lights are working properly both on the exterior and interior of your home. Don’t forget to check if your switches work, too!

8. Air conditioning and heating systems – As mentioned previously, your home may most likely be subject to a house inspection so it’s good to get ahead of them and take care of minor repairs. Having this in top shape will definitely give you an advantage over other sellers.

9. Plumbing – Your house may look good in terms of its aesthetics but if there’s problems in the practical aspects of the home, buyers might step back. You can tend to minor fixtures yourself but if you want to be assured that the plumbing is in a good condition, hire an expert to inspect and fix.

10 . Knobs – They may seem trivial but buyers could be critical of everything. If something as basic as a door knob is not working, buyers might think that the more important parts of the house are not working too.

Before putting your house on the market, make sure that the exterior of your home has the best chance of passing the standards of even the most meticulous visitors.

It may seem like a daunting task, but don’t be overwhelmed. We made this complete checklist to help you get the job done.