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Why Wait Until Spring to List? The Buyers Aren't Waiting to Buy.

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Real Estate Agent with Long and Foster REALTORS®, Gainesville, VA VA License # 0225089470

Why Wait Until Spring to List?  The Buyers Aren't Waiting to Buy.

There is something about the transition to a new calendar year that gets everyone excited about change.  It is a time for fresh starts, new outlooks, resolutions.  And for many who want to buy a home, it's time to get out there and start looking.

Since January first, I have picked up four new buyers.  Yes, in five days my buyer roster went up by four clients.  The bad news is that there isn't much to sell these guys because many sellers are waiting until spring to list.

Why wait?  The buyers aren't.  Get your home on the market now and take advantage of not having as much competition.  You might be able to squeeze a bit more out of your home when it comes to sales price.  The more competition you have in the spring, the more competitive your price has to be to get attention.  

Spring is not always the best time to sell.  Beat the rush to market and list now.  The buyers are out here waiting for homes like yours to hit the market.

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Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster REALTORS®, Gainesville, VA - Bristow, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Ellen:  Showed a leftover from last year earlier this week that raised their price $30K.  New listings would be far preferrable.

Dianne:  Seems we are all singing the same song.

Julie:  I remember moving into my current home right after Christmas.  Serious buyers never stop looking, no matter the season.

Jeanne:  The real estate markets are slammed. The economy can't be nearly as bad as some would lead us to believe.

Travis:  Got get 'em.  

 

Jan 09, 2013 05:14 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster REALTORS®, Gainesville, VA - Bristow, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Mike & Marie:  Another reblog?  Thanks.

Mary:  When there isn't much inventory, showing them everything is an easy job.

Gretchen:  It only takes one home that fits to make a deal.  

Sharon:  When you're ready to sell, get it on the market now.

Frank & Karen:  Sounds like a seller's market to me.  When inventory is low, sellers have control.

Bob:  I usually have more listings than buyers.  Not right now.  Buyers outnumbering listing 5 to 1.

Jan 09, 2013 05:29 AM
Carrie Sampron
Home Smart Realty Group - Highlands Ranch, CO
ABR SFR & Kathy Sampron (303) 931-3629 Highlands R

Chris: Sent an email to a seller today saying essentially the same thing. Why wait until spring? Let's get listed now. Carrie

 

Jan 09, 2013 06:35 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster REALTORS®, Gainesville, VA - Bristow, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Carrie:  Get it down now while the buyers are out.

Jan 09, 2013 06:39 AM
Wayne Zuhl
Remax First Realty II - Cranford, NJ
The Last Name You'll Ever Need in Real Estate

Our inventory in NJ is pretty slim, too, but the buyers are still out there. Many of them are looking to buy before interest rates go up and they just don't have enough choices. Lucky is the seller who gets a well priced, properly marketed house on the market today!

Jan 09, 2013 06:57 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Well-said Chris Ann. It just goes ot show the power of rumors, as in "everybody says..." I saw this when I was in sales, too. "Everybody says there are no buyers in winter, so..."

Aren't you glad that the buyers aren't listening?

Jan 09, 2013 07:01 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster REALTORS®, Gainesville, VA - Bristow, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Wayne & Jean Marie:  More choices are good, but when a buyer finds one they love, they shouldn't wait to see more.  That's the frustrating thing in low inventory is buyers hesitating to see more.

Marte:  You bet I am.  Just wish the sellers would listen up.

Jan 09, 2013 11:48 AM
JoAnn Poole
Century 21 Everest - Simi Valley, CA
Broker of Homes & Condos For Sale in Simi Valley

Chris Ann -- we have under 100 listings to sell here and we need to have 300-400!!!  I like your post...

Jan 09, 2013 01:07 PM
Amy S. Arey
Halo Group Realty, LLC - McKinney, TX

Excellent post!  May I reblog for the folks in our area? 

-Amy

Jan 09, 2013 09:31 PM
Dana Basiliere
Rossi & Riina Real Estate - Williston, VT
Making deals "Happen"

Chris Ann,

You are "spot on" and a woman after my own heart. The same is true in our local market. Buyers gnashing at the bit and have inadequate inventory. I was so taken by the problem I did a blog post last evening. Are you on the fence? I hope your local public hears you.

 

Jan 09, 2013 10:35 PM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster REALTORS®, Gainesville, VA - Bristow, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

JoAnn:  And spring isn't even there yet!  

Amy:  Absolutely.

Dana:  Same to you.  I'm about to start mailing out letters to specific neighborhoods, trolling for listings.

Jan 10, 2013 01:58 AM
John DL Arendsen
CREST "BACKYARD' HOMES, ON THE LEVEL General & Manufactured Home Contractor, TAG Real Estate Sales & Investments - Leucadia, CA
Crest Backyard Homes "ADU" dealer & Contractor

My buyers are never off the market.

Jan 10, 2013 10:36 AM
Anonymous
Shelly Sierra

What a great post! Perfect timing. There is never a bad time to put your home on the market. The buyers are out year round! Thank you for the eye opener.

Jan 10, 2013 06:34 PM
#90
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster REALTORS®, Gainesville, VA - Bristow, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

John: Do you mean your sellers?

Shelly:  That's my feeling.

Jan 11, 2013 12:15 AM
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

Right now there are far more buyers than sellers.  List it at a reasonable (or even some what un reasonable) price and it will be gone in days.

Jan 17, 2013 01:49 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster REALTORS®, Gainesville, VA - Bristow, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Gene:  Yep.  Those Sellers that have wanted to push the envelope for value will find NOW is the best time to do that, not spring.

Jan 17, 2013 03:46 AM
Steve Higgins
RE/MAX Kelowna - Kelowna, BC

Hi Chris Ann,

Good post. I wish we had less inventory here. I tell my clients thinking of selling get it on the market now as homes are on the market anywhere from 90 days or more.

Jan 19, 2013 05:47 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster REALTORS®, Gainesville, VA - Bristow, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Steve:  Sounds like you are one of the few areas having the opposite problem. 

Jan 20, 2013 02:55 AM
Robert L. Brown
www.mrbrownsellsgr.com - Grand Rapids, MI
Grand Rapids Real Estate Bellabay Realty, West Mic
I'm getting sellers ready as well. The time to do this is RIGHT now.
Jan 30, 2013 03:02 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster REALTORS®, Gainesville, VA - Bristow, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Robert:  Strike while the iron is hot.  No sense in waiting.  None of us know what the future holds.

Jan 30, 2013 03:30 AM
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