Spring is coming! This is the time of year that homeowners start preparing their homes for sale and home buyers start monitoring new listings. If you are planning to buy or sell this Spring/Summer, here are some helpful tips.
Preparing a home for sale
Yes, it’s time to start prepping. It’s still too cold to do much work outside, but there’s plenty that you can do inside of your home to get ready for selling. First, start decluttering and packing away items that you won’t need. Next, identify necessary repairs and start chipping away at that list. Getting the nitty gritty work out of the way will make preparing your home for showings so much easier come Spring.
Preparing to buy a home
Buying in Spring/Summer means getting started now! The first thing to do is to contact a loan officer for a mortgage pre-approval. If any errors are found on your credit report, work diligently to get them fixed. Learn about different mortgage programs and what might be the best fit for you. Start saving for your down payment and closing costs. Work with a real estate agent to understand what is available in your price range, how quickly those homes are selling, and what you can expect as a home buyer. With the proper information and guidance, you will be well prepared to take action once the time comes.
Spring market predictions
Spring is always a busy time of year. There’s typically an influx of new listings and lots of home buyer activity. As a seller, this is good news since it often means shorter selling timeframes (plus higher selling prices). For home buyers, expect competition for well priced homes in good condition. Having a pre-approval in-hand will be a huge bonus and ensure that you don’t miss out on your dream home.
Working with a local real estate agent ensures that you understand current market conditions and have the knowledge and advice to make the smart decisions.
By Suzanne Plewes, RE/MAX Alliance in Loveland
Suzanne Plewes is a broker associate at RE/MAX Alliance. Write to 750 W. Eisenhower Blvd., Loveland, CO 80537, call 970.290.0373 or e-mail [email protected].