Not Following The Competition...

In today's market, making the decision to sell your home can be a difficult one. Once you have decided to sell, the best decision you can possibly make is to list your home with a reputable realtor whom you already know and trust, or one who demonstrates competence and knowledge of your local market trends so that they can best market your property.

One thing that I have come across with many sellers who had their houses on the market for some time is "I want to wait until spring to relist...". It is a common refrain from many sellers who are weary of the cycle of listing their homes, only to have them sit for 6 months and see relatively little activity and no serious offers.

Only thing is, almost every seller who is seriously considering relisting their house is thinking the exact same thing: wait until spring, more buyers will be available to see the house, etc. By doing what everyone else is doing, you've just ensured that your house will be one among many that will flood the market at the same time, thus decreasing the chances that it will be your house that gets sold.

Unless you have home improvement projects underway that will seriously add value to your home, then delaying the listing of your home may not work in your favor. Projects such as adding/updating a bathroom, updating the kitchen, finishing the basement, adding a garage, etc. are serious enough undertakings to not be interrupted by buyers coming by to see your house. Your projects should be completed before relisting.

If you do not have any projects planned, and do not intend on starting any, then you give yourself at least two important advantages in listing your house today over those who wait until spring without having a serious reason (besides unreadiness) to do so: you house will have more market exposure, and you will have relatively less competition to deal with.

What does that mean? Simply put, your house will be the one that sells because you are one of a few to be considered, as opposed to one out of a dozen or more.

Lead your competition - the other sellers - by being the first to list your house. Don't follow the competition!