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Warning! The Mistake Many Sellers Make Relisting In The Spring

By
Home Stager with Sharon Tara Transformations

Warning!  The Mistake Many Sellers Make Relisting In The Spring

Are you one of the many sellers who took their house off the market last winter, intending to relist in the spring?  If so, you could be about to make a very costly mistake.  

Many sellers take their house off the market blaming the time of year, the economy, or the agent...when the real problem is the condition of their house.  It's important you learn from your past experience and, this time around make some changes in your approach to selling.  

Sellers who expect better results by simply changing seasons and/or hiring a new agent usually end up disappointed.

albert einstein

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results" 

Albert Einstein

 

If you want different results this time around, you need a different approach. Increase the perceived value of your home and set your house apart from the competition. 

  • Make condition and presentation your priority.
  • When choosing an agent, check the MLS photos of their current listings.
  • Consult with a Professional Home Stager on the most cost effective improvements.
  • Prepack as much as possible.
  • Clean, paint, and update.
  • Organize kitchen cabinets and all closets.
 

If you don't choose to improve the condition, then you will have no choice but to lower the price.  Talk about insanity!

Comments (65)

Kasey & John Boles
Jon Gosche Real Estate, LLC - BoiseMeridianRealEstate.com - Boise, ID
Boise & Meridian, ID Ada/Canyon/Gem/Boise Counties

Not to mention a lot of people have the same thought, so actually sellers have less competition in the winter with typically less homes on the market.  We actually usually do pretty well in January and February. -Kasey

Feb 03, 2012 06:22 PM
Beth Lester
Beth Lester Designs - Torrance, CA
Home Staging & Interior Decorating

We have been very successful selling staged homes in December.......as long as they are priced right!

Feb 04, 2012 02:58 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Monica:  If the place is cluttered the potential buyer won't be able to see the finer details of the house.

Lyn:  I agree....price is an issue, of course, but the condition will warrant the price.  If the place is not perceived to have been well maintained, then buyers will expect a lower price.

Marshall:  It costs far more in the long run NOT to prepare your house for sale.  You make a great point....the value of the effort far exceeds the investment in time and energy.

Steven:  Thanks!  Hopefully more sellers will learn this!

Kimo:  I like how you put it!   "Price is only the attraction, the details are the substance of conversion" Well said!

 

Feb 04, 2012 03:14 AM
Liane Thomas, Top Listing Agent
Professional Realty Services® - Corona, CA
Bringing you Home!

Some things never change. It is about price, location, condition.

Feb 04, 2012 04:06 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Brad:  I'm continuously amazed at the pictures I see on MLS.  Some agents don't make any effort at all.

Suzi:  Good point....the MLS pics are supposed to highlight features.  Some pictures you just scratch your head wondering what were they thinking when they posted that????

Wayne & Jean Marie:  They think because it's Spring that suddenly their dated wallpaper and rusty door knobs won't matter....come on!

Holly:  especially when it comes to real estate!

Phil:  Thanks!

Sean:  Well obviously she knew best!  Sometimes you find that you just can't help some people.  She may eventually catch on...or not.

Chris:  Thanks for the tweet!

Ken:  Price will compensate all right.  If you don't make the improvements and show a presentable and emotionally appealing home, you will have to compensate with the price.

Tammie:  I agree that she should know better, but not everyone gets it.  It doesn't make any marketing sense at all to have listed and shown this house with renters in it when she could have waited and presented a much more appealing product.  For some people it's all about "getting it listed".

Janine:  Good advice, but even then some just won't see the light.  It usually takes a professional's eye.

Joel:  I think the Spring market if over rated.  I'll take the Winter months with less competition and serious buyers any day!

 

 

Feb 05, 2012 12:42 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Gene:  "Age is only good for wine.  Waiting 6 months does not make the tacky decor any better."  Love it!


Feb 05, 2012 12:43 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Kasey:  Agreed!

Beth:  You can't beat a house that is staged and priced right!  Killer combination!

Liane:  Real estate 101.

 

Feb 05, 2012 12:45 AM
Bob Miller
Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty - Ocala, FL
The Ocala Dream Team

Hi Sharon, the is one important segment of our market here in Ocala that is very seasonal dependant.  That is the retirement community.  Spring and late Fall is when the "Snowbirds" buy.

Feb 05, 2012 01:25 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Bob:  My parents are snow birds (not far from Ocala) so I know what you mean.  The thing I really wanted to stress was the importance of reevaluating your condition and price before relisting.  Too often sellers think relisting in the Spring is the answer when in fact their price or condition is the reason they didn't sell the first time around.  

Feb 05, 2012 02:20 AM
Joshua Stein
Coldwell Banker Preferred - Conshohocken - Flourtown, PA
Homes For Sale - Montgomery County

If sellers think that the time of year is the only thing that kept their home from selleing, they're kidding themselves.  There are buyers all year long, and it's important to put your best foot forward for all of them.

Feb 05, 2012 01:01 PM
Debbie Walsh
SHAHAR Management - Middletown, NY
Hudson Valley NY Real Estate 845.283-3036

Another great post.  That saying by Albert Einstein I think I am going to put right on the front of my appointment book for anyone I am meeting with to see!

Feb 05, 2012 11:58 PM
Julia Maher
Nestings: Connecticut Home Staging and Model Homes - Fairfield, CT
Connecticut Home Stager

Absolutely BRILLIANT post, Sharon!  I hate it when we see MLS photos that are obviously from a previous listing...with summer foliage and flowers or holiday decor.

Feb 06, 2012 01:29 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Joshua:  In some cases, they are just fooling themselves to avoid doing the real work it takes to properly prepare their house for sale.

Debra:  Good idea...hit it with them right up front!

Julia:  Holiday decor is a real pet peeve of mine too.  Thank you for saying my post is brilliant....you made my day!

Feb 06, 2012 11:52 AM
Sylvie Stuart
Realty One Group Mountain Desert 928-600-2765 - Flagstaff, AZ
Home Buying, Home Selling and Investment - Flagsta

There is so much competition out there, it's definitely important to have your listing in the best shape it can be in so that it shines among the other homes. The other disadvantage is that a lot of owners wait to put their home on the market in the spring, so there is even more competition at that time.

Feb 07, 2012 12:53 AM
Donna Sainato
A Special Effect Design and Home Staging - Nashua, NH

Sharon, Great post! It always amazes me that both the realtor and the seller are willing to take a price reduction but won't stage. Will they ever learn?

Feb 07, 2012 05:18 AM
Anna Dovger
Add Value Home Staging LLC, 281-704-6607 - The Woodlands, TX
Home Staging -The Woodlands, TX

Sharon, love your suggestion to approach differently to the selling process. Personally I would sell in the fall or winter because of less competition...or maybe not, Spring would be perfect and I will let all those ugly homes help sell mine that will be Well Prepared and Right Priced.

Feb 08, 2012 02:24 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Valerie:  Feedback is very important.  I know how hard it is to get though, because I've recently been on both sides as buyer and seller.  I saw first hand just how tough it is for the agents to find the time for giving feedback.

Sylvie:  Less competition can be a real plus when selling....why not take advantage of it while you've got it.

Donna:  Some have learned and some never will.

Anna:  There are advantages to both...you have to sell when it's most convenient to you and not let the seasons take precedence.

 

Feb 08, 2012 03:03 AM
Ronald DiLalla
Century 21 Discovery DRE 01813824 - Anaheim, CA
No. Orange Cty Real Estate

Hi Sharon,,,,more  than likely it wasn't priced propetly either.

Feb 25, 2012 03:36 PM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Sharon - good points, but real estate i=s very local, and in our area listing in late springs make a lot of sense, and yes, you can expect the property to sell for more money

Feb 25, 2012 03:40 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Ronald:  And, if price was the issue the first time, the seller needs to adjust it when they relist.

Jon:  Real estate is definitely local.  My issue isn't with listing in the Spring, it's with RELISTING in the Spring and not taking into consideration why your house didn't sell the first time you listed it.  When you RELIST, you need to make the necessary changes in order not to have the same result.

Feb 26, 2012 12:57 AM