If You Want To Move In June - You Need To List Your Home In February
I know the topic of conversation right now is not School registration or the State Fair. It's more like "What size snowblower do you have?" But National surveys tell us the biggest reason people move is SCHOOLS. If you are wanting a new school district for your kiddos this upcoming school year and need to sell your house first, you will need a sign in your yard sooner than you may think! And keep in mind, schools may not be your concern, but if you live is a highly desireable schools system, this will be on the mind of the people buying your home. TWO things you need to know if you need to sell your home THEN buy another home in time to register for school. Average days on market for your subdivision or for homes like yours in your area How long it takes to close on a house once you have a contract. In Springfield, the average days on market (DOM) has been around 32 days the past few years. This range is a drastic change from our previous 10 year average of 98 days. There are some subdivisions that average 8 days (which is excellent!!). Your Realtor (uh hmm - ME) can provide this information. For this scenario let us go with 20 days to sell your house. What we want to do is talk about your main objective and create a timeline so we can best match your goals. After we discuss how long it may take to sell your house, then we talk about the length of time between contract and closing and how long it will take you to find your next home. If a buyer is financed, and most are, a typical contract timeline is 30 to 45 days. Realtors don't set these averages, the banks and mortgage compainies do. This timeframe is negotiable. Sometimes, your buyers can close in 45 days, but we will need to ask for more time to give you time to find another home. Working this timeline, including the averages, the process would be 65 days from going on market to closing. If you want to move the first Friday of June, you will need to go on market the end of March. Putting your house on the market mid to late February, puts your home out BEFORE the Spring rush, so you hit the market a few strides before the competition (because EVERY other listing is your competition). If you need that new address for school registration, then we've given you ample time to sell, find a house, move in and go on a vacation, register for school and enjoy the state fair!! Let me say, from personal experience, moving the weekend before school starts is stressful (....sophomore year for me!!), so lets get you in that next home in plenty of time. If this fits your situation, lets talk as early as January, sometimes it can take a month to get a home ready for market, let me help you with the to-do list so you are spending time and money on the most important - buyer-friendly- tasks. You can contact me by email, phone or social media to discuss anything in this post or anything else on your mind.
5 Tips for Downsizing and Decluttering
We've all seen or heard about Marie Kondo's KonMarie method about tidying up and decluttering your home (unless you've been living under a rock). Spark a new joy in your life by clearing out the clutter to prepare for downsizing! 1. Hone In On The Benefits When you begin the process of decluttering and downsizing, you should constantly remind yourself of the freedom this will actually bring you. You won’t have an excess in physical things weighing you down or taking up valuable space - both in your home and mentally in your mind. Don't focus on what you're losing. Look at what you're gaining. Downsizing can equal a lower mortgage or rent per month, freeing up your budget for things like traveling and other experiences 2. Focus On Your Needs, Not Wants This is a tough one but when deciding to downsize, you need to focus on the things that are absolutely essential. Follow the one year rule. If you haven’t used something in over a year, chances are you’re not going to use it this year either. Begin by sorting your items by category, not location. Go through clothing, appliances, shoes, books and then focus on sentimental items last. 3. Does it spark joy? Marie Kondo’s catchphrase is “does it spark joy?” The idea behind this concept is that if an item doesn’t bring you joy, you shouldn’t hold on to it. Focus on the easy items to get rid of first and then work your way up to the items you’ve been hoarding. While our possessions can act as an extension of ourselves, sometimes we hold on to items we haven’t used in years leading to clutter. 4. Utilize creative yet effective storage options Challenge your creativity with different storage configurations in order to maximize your living space. Think hide-away bins underneath your bed (if it’s too low, considering buying risers!), storage benches in entryways, closet shelves, and shoe racks, and storage ottomans. 5. Everything should have its place “Everyone has a place in their house for forks. If you found a random fork in the bathroom or under the couch, you’d immediately know it didn’t belong there and would return it to its drawer without another thought. Everything in your life should be this easy to put away. If an item occupies no specific location when not in use, it becomes clutter.” - Steve McClatchy, author of Decide: Work Smarter, Reduce Your Stress, and Lead By Example
7 Easy Upgrades to Transform Your Kitchen
When dreaming of your perfect kitchen, it can be hard to decide what changes need to happen in order to make it the perfect space. The kitchen is the most visited space in the house, so make sure you are prepared before embarking on this remodeling journey. There are several changes you can make when the time comes, so we created a list to help you get started. Here are 7 easy upgrades to consider to bring your dream kitchen to fruition! Renovating Cabinets Rather than installing completely new cabinets, painting tarnished or scuffed cabinetry is a cost-effective way to brighten the room. Make sure to scrub the cabinets before you sand, prime, then paint. Taking your time to do these proper steps will ensure that the final product is beautiful. If you are not a skilled painter, your best option is to hire it out, or replace the cabinets altoghether. Protip: Lighter colored paints can make your kitchen appear larger! New Shiny Faucet There is more to your sink than simply washing dishes and running water. A beautiful faucet can take you one step closer to your dream kitchen. Rather than replacing the entire sink, try updating spouts, valves, finishes, and handles to improve the appearance of your sink without breaking the bank. Protip: Choose one of the most popular faucets from 2023 and your kitchen will start to sparkle like new. Knob Revamp Replace knobs and drawer pulls with classic finishes such as brushed nickel or stainless steel for a “brand new” look. Even if you aren't handy, knobs are easy to replace with very little difficulty or risk. Hardware stores like Home Depot and Lowe's carry a variety of all sorts. Protip: Make sure to do this step last if you plan to repaint your cabinets. Store Efficiently An out of the box idea that will make your kitchen more efficient is switching up how you store your food, pots, pans, and appliances. Pots and pans have long handles that fit perfectly into tall cabinets and pantries or hung on overhead racks. Store your food in the pullable deep drawers for easy access while cooking. Protip: Storing kitchen items efficiently will declutter the room and is a simple way to give the room a "new" feel. Backsplash Upgrade If you haven’t replaced your backsplash in more than a decade, chances are it’s outdated. A kitchen backsplash can compliment the counters and make a bold statement. If yours is outdated, it’s fairly simple to replace with a little DIY know-how. From classic tile to mosaics or even wood, easy peel-and-stick options are available. Protip: Searching Pinterest for "kitchen backsplash ideas" will provide a plethora of options to inspire you. Improved Lighting Lighting is a key feature in creating an open and inviting space that future buyers will love. If you have pendant lights or lamps, make sure they’re still in style. If not, invest in modern lighting fixtures that will have appeal in today’s housing market. Adding under cabinet lighting is another quick fix that makes a huge difference. It’s relatively inexpensive and will brighten up your counter space. Protip: Invest in smart bulbs which are internet-capable LED light bulbs that allow lighting to be customized, scheduled and controlled remotely.
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