From the first step a buyer takes into your foyer, their perception of your home is set. Flowers or a pretty plant on a foyer table can light the way.
On cold days, a cozy temperature will help sell your home. If you have a gas fireplace, turn it on. On hot days, set the air conditioner cooler than normal. In moderate weather, open windows for fresh air.
Open all shades, curtains and blinds. Turn on all lights including lamps and overhead fixtures-- even for daytime showings. Make sure you have replaced any dim or burned out bulbs.
Buyers need help understanding how spacious your home is. So, make sure there are no distractions or obstacles that block their view or passage.
Put away cash, jewelry, valuables and prescription medicine. Keep these items out of harm’s way.
If the temperature allows it, open windows and air out the house every morning. Some odors, such as baking bread, apple pie and cookies have a positive effect on people. Other smells, however, don’t. If you or a family member smokes, please don’t smoke inyour home. And, don’t allow guests to smoke while your home is on the market. Sometimes stale tobacco odors can be masked with some odor sprays.
Make a plan to remove your pet while the house is being shown. If necessary, crate your pet while buyers view your home. The best situation is for your pet to visit a friend on the days heavy traffic is expected. If you have a dog, please clean the yard on a daily basis. If you have a cat, change the litter box daily, and consider moving it to the garage. Realtors cannot be responsible for the safety or security of your pets.
It is important to monitor the market and its trends. You determine the asking price of your home. The market determines the sales price. You decide if you want to sell at market price.
Global, national and regional trends—from unemployment and job creation, to taxes and deficits, to international events—have significant impact on the psychology of the real estate market.
Sorting through all the information available, we think consumer confidence is best expressed in the number of new contracts written every month.
Undoubtedly, the cost of mortgages has a huge impact on the national and local real estate markets. It’s not just today’s rates— it’s what the forecasts say that determine how many buyers will be in the market when your home goes on the market.
Everything from major construction projects— like the Purple Line, the Beltway expansion, and the InterCounty Connector—to local taxes and elections, schools and traffic patterns, help determine where people are buying.
We look at trends in our local market every day ... what’s settled, what’s new, what’s changing. In addition to our specific conversation about your home and your neighborhood, you can always get an update on our view of the overall market conditions asking!
​​​​​​​We provide full clarity into the transaction timeline
Compass
Senior Vice President, Realtor
Principal, Katrina Homes
5471 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 300
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Katrina Schymik Abjornson