Reader Serafina asked a good question on yesterday’s post:
There’s been a lot of discussion on the blog about the buyer’s side — how it might be good to wait until fall, how there are bidding wars, etc.
What about the sellers? We are getting ready to sell. Why? We bought in ’99; we’ve got lots of equity; we want to get rid of the expense and responsibility of homeownership and live in a condo, which we’ve already purchased.
So for those sellers who do have their houses on the market, what are the current challenges?
My advice to sellers this year has been simple: Now is a great time to sell, if you can afford to.
With quality, well-priced listings so few and far between, a seller that has a well-kept home in a good location who lists at a reasonable price and shows a clean, well-kept home has it pretty easy in today’s market.
My primary tip is that you not take the “hot” market for granted. If you overprice your home, it will sit, unsold. If you leave your clutter lying around and the yard full of weeds, it will probably sit, unsold. Today’s market bears some resemblance to the frenzy of 2005 and 2006, but buyers’ irrational fear of being priced out forever is thankfully gone, so they won’t just buy the first dump that comes along.
What about those of you that are selling your home right now, or have sold in recent months? What’s your advice?