It’s beginning to look and feel a lot like spring in the Birmingham, Alabama area! We are currently in a seller’s market due to the low inventory of homes available. With spring ramping up, more homes should come on the market and both buyers and sellers need to be prepared.
Whether you’re looking to buy or sell your home this spring, there are certain guidelines for the real estate market that you should be aware of. Let’s go over the top tips for both buyers and sellers this spring to ensure that they get the most out of the real estate market!
Spring 2019 Tips for Buyers
For those looking to buy this spring, you’re not alone! The spring time is one of the biggest buying times in real estate and this year is no different. Since there are so many others looking to buy, you need to know exactly what you’re looking for and what you can spend.
First things first, get pre approved so you know what your price range is. Don’t look at houses that are higher than your price range thinking you can negotiate a bargain. Spring is not the time to make low ball offers if you’re serious about buying. Decide on what you want that’s within your price range and go after it!
You will also need to keep in mind that you’ll most likely need to put some closing costs towards your offer. Be sure that you have enough money to cover your closing costs in case the seller doesn’t put anything towards your closing costs. Be prepared!
Buying in the spring is the busiest season so know what you’re looking for and when you do find a home, see it immediately. Decide if you want to make an offer right after the showing. Spring buyers are serious, so you need to be too.
Don’t wait a day or two to put an offer in on a home or you might have missed your shot. Decide what is most important to you and don’t see homes that don’t fit your criteria, budget, or are out of your designated location. If you’re looking to buy now, make sure you have the time available in your schedule to see houses.
When you make an offer, be sure it’s a good one or you might miss out! Once you know exactly what you’re looking, make a plan to only see homes that fit your criteria. You shouldn’t have second thoughts once you see the home; it’s either a yes or a no.
Photographs make it easier for buyers to see if the home will work for them before they even step foot inside. Then when you go see the house, you’ll know if the photos match what the house actually looks like.
Plenty of homes being sold in the spring receive multiple offers, so you don’t want to miss out on a home just because you thought you had time to negotiate back and forth. Make a serious offer on a home that you want to buy.
Even though spring is a busy time, you want to buy a home buy now instead of waiting! Just be serious about your needs and the offers you make. For more tips on the home buying process, read this post on what homebuyers need to know.
Spring 2019 Tips for Sellers
The spring is the perfect time to put your home on the market! Listing your home early means that you will have less competition out there, and more potential buyers to receive offers from. Be ready to get your house on the market and also be ready to move.
As of now, we are still in a seller’s market, but don’t think that you get to skip on the prep work! There are still some things you need to do before you list your house.
Start early and be sure you’re prepared not only for the market, but to move as well!
Some sellers put their homes on the market thinking it make take weeks or months to sell and then they are in a scramble when they start receiving offers. Just like buyers, you need to be a serious seller and you need to be prepared to sell now instead of waiting.
This means getting your house ready for the market and pricing your house reasonably. Price your home to sell, because even in a seller’s market, if you price your house too high it won’t receive offers, or at least not strong ones.
In order to be in the real estate game this spring your home needs to appeal to buyers! This means pricing it correctly and making it look appealing for buyers to want to view.
Photographs are key since most buyers look at houses online and decide whether they want to visit the house this way. Be sure to get professional photographs done and don’t neglect the outside of your home!
To prepare your house for pictures, you’re going to need to do a little work. You’ll need to clean your house inside and out. Click here for cleaning tips on how to clean your home before putting it on the market!
Don’t neglect the power of curb appeal. Be sure you mow the front and back yard and fill any beddings full with mulch or straw. Paint the front door if needed and make sure there aren’t any leaves or branches piled on your roof. Make any small repairs that need to be done.
Inside, once you clean you’ll need to declutter and depersonalize. You want buyers to see the house as their future home, so give them as clean of a slate as you can! For information on how to declutter your house and depersonalize it, see this post.
You can also use this time to start packing and throwing away unwanted items. Think of it as a head start on spring cleaning!
Staging your home is also a good idea, even in a seller’s market. Read more about how to stage your home here. While you won’t have to put too much work into your home as far as remodeling or staging, it still needs to appeal to buyers for it to sell!
Nothing says spring like flowers, so you may even want to plant fresh flowers in your front yard, and put out a vase of fresh flowers for house showings. Use the season to your advantage! For more information on how to sell your home, click here.
Do You Have Spring Real Estate Fever Yet?
So whether you’re a buyer or a seller, or both, now is the time to start getting ready for the spring market! Be sure you’re prepared financially and time wise. Be ready to move within 30 – 45 days when you make or receive an offer.
One of the biggest assets you can have during this time is the right realtor. Find a local expert who knows the area and can help you buy or sell your house during this season. You don’t want to wing buying or selling a home in the spring market.
If you are in the Birmingham area and are looking to buy or sell your home, let us help! We are local real estate experts and we would love to help you during this process. Contact Dianna Howell at The Howell Group at 205-568-5435, or email her at: dianna.howell@kw.com
