Are you planning to list your home in the new year? If so, I’ve got some insider secrets to share with you to help you beat out the competition, get more money for your home and sell it within your desired timeline. It all goes back to the old adage, “the early bird gets the worm.” And in this case, the early birds are shopping for worms – homes – beginning in January. According to the latest research published by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) 88 percent of home buyers begin looking for their next home using the Internet – not really a surprise, right?! However, what is surprising is that buyers start researching homes 12 weeks before they commit to a home, making January the prime time they begin shopping in order to close and move during the peak spring and summer market. The trend bears out with our own website! Beacham & Company sees the greatest jump up in website traffic in January! 
Interesting, you say? Year after year we see this trend play out and in the luxury market, taking advantage of the trend is even more important. Luxury homes, on average, spend more days on the market than average priced homes and the buyer pool is generally smaller. So, if you are planning to list your home in 2018, I strongly suggest we get to work making that happen come January.
What are Next Steps?
- Make an appointment with a Realtor® – Your first step, once you decide you’d like to explore listing your home in 2018 is to call a Realtor® to discuss your options and talk about your plans. Of course, I’d love the opportunity to put my experience to work for you. As a 3rd generation Atlantan, Real Estate Attorney and Realtor®, I have a unique skill set to better help you find your ideal home and give you that extra edge at the negotiating table.
- Prepare to stage your home – Once we’re ready to move forward, we’ll tour your home with an eye for staging it for sale. Whether we decide to hire a professional staging consultant or do it ourselves, we will identify any fixes, improvements or most often, decluttering and shifting around that will accentuate the beauty and functionality of your home.
- Prepare to have your home photographed – Compelling photography was identified in NAR’s study (mentioned above) as more important to buyers when browsing your listing than detailed information about your property – including price! We’ve heard about the importance of high quality photography time-and-time again which is why we have phenomenal photographers on staff and take the time to help you prepare to have your home photographed.
So, if you plan on listing your home in 2018, my insider advice is to consider listing in January to beat the competition and give yourself the best chance to sell within your timeline and for top dollar. We have seen it happen year-after-year that sellers listing in January get a headstart on all those who wait until spring to list. Please, reach out, I’d be happy to answer any questions and discuss your options for listing in the new year.
~Jess
