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How to keep (your home) from getting stuck in a snowbank

12/15/2017

 
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When I was a teenager and knew everything (or at least far more than my parents), I insisted on getting a Pontiac Sunbird as my first car because: A) I thought rear wheel drive was super cool, and B) my parents were coldly unsympathetic to my pleas for a Corvette.

But in my first winter of driving I quickly discovered that being stuck helplessly in the snow on the side of the road was super uncool.

This time of year your listed property can stay as stuck in a snowbank as a used, 1979 Sunbird with questionable tires—unless you take the right steps to sell during the winter and holiday months.

I may not know everything like I did when I was 17, but I have learned some tips on how to keep property sales from spinning out of control when the conditions are icy and snowy:
 
Sell the snow to snow bunnies
Don’t think of snow as the inconvenient, never-ending precipitation that cruelly forces you from your warm bed extra early so you can chisel your windshield just so you can see how painfully slowly your morning commute is grinding along. Think of snow like kids do… as beautiful, plentiful and free recreation material. That will help you list your home with words that attract snow lovers and help prospective buyers visualize how they can take advantage of the season.

For example, winter buyers often warm up to words like: “15 minutes to skiing and snowboarding.” If you’re a homeowner reading the Laconia Daily Sun, chances are your property is in close proximity to Gunstock Mountain Resort, snowmobile and cross country skiing trails, ice fishing and other winter activities.
 
Location, location, location
If your home is in an urban area be sure to highlight how conveniently buyers can access life’s needs even when the weather is bad.

For example, the warm, cozy Cape Cod I have listed at 264 South Main Street in Laconia is within walking distance of the Shang Hai Chinese restaurant, South End Pizza & Seafood, the Vista Foods Supermarket, Sunflower Natural Foods, and the delicious, steaming-hot drinks prepared at Wayfarer Coffee Roasters. When New Year’s Resolution time arrives, the brand new, fully equipped Fit Focus Fitness Club is also within walking distance.
 
Feature quality photos from all seasons
If you’ve taken photos that show your property in different seasons, share them with your Realtor.

It is best to use high quality equipment and have an experienced photographer take pictures of your home and land, like we do for clients at Roche Realty. But if you have decent pictures of the property that were taken in the spring, summer and fall, share them. A seasonal variety of listing photos can help buyers picture what their prospective new home looks like the rest of the year.
 
What to show when there’s snow
If your home has been on the market since there were leaves on the trees, ask your realtor to update your listing description for wintertime. Highlight any cold-weather desirables like an updated roof, an attached garage, quality insulation, or a new water heater or HVAC system.
 
Don’t just say it’s cozy… make it cozy
The colder it is outside, the cozier it is inside… if you do things right.

Crank the heat a little higher when there’s a showing or open house. You might light some candles or even a crackling fire in the fireplace or woodstove if you have one. If you just happened to fry up some bacon and/or bake some cookies the morning of the open house, warm, comforting smells will permeate your home.

Also, consider spreading some welcome, warmth and cheer with potentially hypothermic visitors: set out some hot apple cider, tea or cocoa to enjoy as they visit the home that may soon be theirs.
 
Winterize your (open) house
Potential buyers brave the elements to arrive at your winter open house. Make sure your driveway, walkways and front porch are clear of snow and ice. Set out a doormat so visitors can wipe their feet before entering.

It’s also a nice touch to place rubber or plastic trays inside for slushy, snow-covered boots. Leave a pair of your own shoes there and visitors will get the idea.

This attention to detail demonstrates that you care about your house, which potential buyers will appreciate.
 
Decorate simply and strategically
Homes can show better during the holidays if decorated simply and strategically.

I’m sorry to be “Bah Humbug” but when it comes to selling homes, that oversized Nightmare Before Christmas inflatable in the front yard is about as helpful as rear wheel drive and bald tires on an icy road. And a Rockefeller Center-sized Christmas tree wedged under an eight-foot ceiling makes a living room look cartoonishly puny.

On the other hand, bright red and green poinsettias are an inexpensive and colorful touch. If you decorate with string lights, white lights are best because they’re the least distracting. And if you had to pick one just holiday decoration, make it a wreath on your front door. Wreaths can easily be customized—for example with a colorful bow—to match the personality of your home and create a classy, cheerful first impression for visitors.

I may not know everything like I did when I was 17, but I do know this: Winter sales don’t have to spin out, and your listed home doesn’t have to be helplessly stuck in a snowbank all winter… because that’s super uncool.

Why Winter Can Be a Hot Time to Sell Your Home

12/8/2017

 
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We’ve all heard myths and urban legends that simply aren’t true. For example, you may have heard…
  • If you put a penny on the railroad tracks you’ll derail the train, flatten the penny, or both.
  • If you cross your eyes they’ll stick that way… forever!
  • If you swallow gum it will remain lodged in your stomach for seven years. Unless…
  • You eat Pop Rocks and drink soda, in which case your stomach will burst (and the previously-swallowed gum will be expelled by the explosive chemical reaction).

Similarly, many of us have heard the real estate equivalent of being sternly cautioned to wait an hour between eating and swimming… the myth that people should wait for spring, because you can’t sell houses in the winter.

I’m here to help homeowners melt that real estate myth and clearly see the truth, even if they did sit too close to the TV when they were little.

Why winter can be a prime season to sell your home
The change of season changes the dynamic of real estate sales, giving fewer listings more leverage. There are several reasons why winter can be a strategic time to sell your home:

Low inventory means high visibility
The supply of for-sale homes tends to dip with the mercury in the thermometer. There are fewer homes on the market this time of year because many homeowners fall for the myth that you “can’t sell a snowbank.”

But the truth is that people need to buy homes all year long, regardless of weather. By listing during the seasonal dip in inventory you can potentially concentrate stronger, more rapid interest on your property than you could next spring, when the market will saturated with an abundance of competitive new home listings.

Winter buyers are more serious
Lots of “Lookie Lou’s” look at lots of properties and go to lots of open houses in the spring and summer. There may be fewer buyers during the winter months, but you are likely to find that those who do bundle up to brave the ice, snow and wind are more focused and more motivated than fair weather shoppers.

Buyers with pressing timetables and limited options may be less picky, more open minded, and more motivated to make quick offers.

Cold weather generates warm regards from your listing agent
A good realtor will always be motivated to sell and will make clients feel like the most important people in the world, regardless of season. But the reality is that listing in the winter can help.

Realtor activity often slows down during the icy and snowy months, especially here in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region. Fewer clientele means listing agents have greater motivation and more time and energy to promote the properties they represent.

No landscaping, no problem
I have three winter words for you if your property is lacking in the landscaping department: “Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!”

Properties listed in the spring or summer require constant attention to existing landscaping, which is a critical aspect of curb appeal. Warm weather months also highlight any deficiencies in existing landscaping.

Higher closing prices
According to Trulia, “Statistics show that homes actually sell at a slightly higher price in winter.” I was curious to see if this assertion would hold up in the Lakes Region, so I did a quick study of Belknap County single family homes listed between the beginning of May and the end of August, 2017, and I compared the results against homes listed between the beginning of December 2016 and the end of March 2017.

Sure enough, the median closed prices for homes listed during the winter months were about 3.6 percent higher than comparable Belknap County properties listed in the spring and summer months, netting a median difference of an extra $7,650 for the winter listings.

Those are the cold, hard facts. So don’t let a real estate myth make you wait until spring to sell. Winter months can mean more focus on fewer listings, and more motivated buyers. You can sell your home in the winter months, and if you contact me, I can help.

But please just don’t go outside with a wet head this time of year… you’ll catch your death of cold!

Feel free to contact me with questions about buying or selling residential real estate in the Lakes Region. Your questions may be the subject of a future article.

Brent Metzger is a sales associate at Roche Realty Group in Meredith, NH.  He can be reached on his cell phone at (603) 229-8322, at the office at (603) 279-7046, or by e-mail: brent@rocherealty.com
Please feel free to visit www.rocherealty.com to learn more about the Lakes Region and its real estate market.

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    Brent Metzger is actively licensed as a sales agent (# 072494) with the New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure, Certification/NH Real Estate Commission, and is affiliated with brokerage Roche Realty Group / 97 Daniel Webster Highway Meredith, NH 03253 / office: (603) 279-7046
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