If you have real estate plans around Albany and Corvallis, then understanding the latest market trends is one way to get an edge over the competition. You may have heard that spring is a very busy time in the real estate industry, with buyers and sellers emerging in full force after the quieter winter months. A recent article from Keeping Current Matters delves deeper into why that's the case, including identifying the best time of the year to list a home on the market. Our real estate agents have more details on this interesting article, along with some tips to help you prepare your home for the market this spring.

Why April Is a Great Time to List Your Home

The article in Keeping Current Matters dives into a study conducted by the Realtor.com, which analyzed the best week of the year to list a home based on data from recent years. The result? April is the best time to list, with the week of April 14-20 standing out especially. Factors analyzed in the study included level of demand from buyers, level of competition from other sellers, and the number of price reductions compared to a typical week in the year. When adding everything up, April emerged as the clear winner.

Many of the factors that made April 14-20 the choice for best week to list a home also apply throughout the busy spring and summer seasons. So if you've been thinking of listing your home but putting it off to wait for the perfect time, this time of year could be the ideal opportunity to put your plan into action.

Getting Your Listing Ready for the Spring Market

Planning to list your home this spring and need to develop a plan of action to get everything ready in time? The size of the task depends on the condition of the home, but there's plenty that you can do relatively quickly to maximize the appeal of your home when it hits the market. Here are a few key tasks to keep in mind:

• Cleaning and Decluttering
  No matter how tidy you normally keep things, every house needs a deep cleaning before it hits the market. This should include all of the little, out-of-the-way places that you wouldn't normally think to check. While you're cleaning, take the opportunity to clear out clutter and personal items, so buyers can more easily imagine their lives in the home.

• Addressing Maintenance Issues
  Underlying maintenance issues can cause serious problems in the sales process, and can even derail a sale if the home inspection reveals something serious. Addressing those maintenance issues may have an out of pocket cost now, but it often pays off in a big way as the sales process progresses.

• Refreshing Curb Appeal
  You want buyers to be impressed from the moment they arrive at the curb, which is why curb appeal is such a priority. Your gardening, landscaping, trees, shrubs, and lawn can all play a role in attracting buyers. You'll also want to make sure that the exterior of the home is clean, and looking its best.

• Choosing the Right Real Estate Agent
  Whether this is your first time selling a home or you've navigated the process before, investing time in choosing a real estate agent who understands your needs and knows your community is well worth the effort.

Looking for the right team to help you list your home this spring? Our local team is here to help you accomplish your real estate goals. Contact us to buy and sell homes throughout the Albany and Corvallis, OR, area.