Here's why it's a good idea to list your home now

By Mitch Allen

Right now, when the cold rains of November beat down the last colorful leaves of fall and we all start Googling turkey recipes, many real estate agents yawn and stretch like bears going into hibernation. After all, no one buys a house in the winter, right?

Not so fast.

“Smart, savvy agents are actually really busy in the fall and winter,” explains Sajag Patel, of Brunswick’s Bold Real Estate Consultants.

“There are plenty of buyers out there. Executives are relocating and leases are ending, creating a lot of first-time home buyers. Plus, lower inventories this time of year mean higher sales prices. You can actually get more for your home now than in the spring.”

In addition, next spring may not be all sunshine and daffodils.

“Interest rates continue to rise and will be even higher in the spring, over 5%,” Sajag says.

“Although transactions are stable, we’re already seeing inventory levels rise and they’ll be even higher when the snow melts, putting downward pressure on sale prices. The good news is that inventory levels are still the lowest they’ve been in the last 10 years; the bad news is, they are rising. You don’t want to wait.”

Now is an especially good time to list if you live in the Brunswick area.

“Compared to the third quarter of last year, there is 25% less inventory in Brunswick,” Sajag says.

“That scarcity is helping homes sell for more, especially compared to the whole of Medina county, where inventories are down only 5.8%. That means we can get you a higher price per square foot in the fourth and first quarters because there is less competition.”

Yes, the market has cooled off, Sajag adds. Days on the market are increasing, interest rates are rising and buyers are wanting to see homes two and three times instead of making an offer on the spot. While that’s bad news for the unprofessional real estate agent, it’s good news for the Bold team.

“This is when we shine,” Sajag says.

“Our unique marketing plan allows us to price homes right and get them sold in exactly this kind of market. Unlike many agents, we never sleep. Last year, we sold several properties during Thanksgiving week.”

The Bold Real Estate Consultants marketing plan includes professional stagers and photographers to maximize your home’s online appeal—and they pay for it, not you.

“These days, every first showing is online so you need a lot of high-quality photos,” Sajag says.

“Frankly, I’m shocked at some of the pictures of homes I see online—the kitchen is a mess, there’s a dog in the photo, or the lighting is completely off. You just can’t do that.”

Bold, which is affiliated with Keller Williams Greater Cleveland Southwest, has built a full team of specialists that helps homeowners maximize their profit on the sale of their home and avoid costly pitfalls.

Unlike a traditional real estate company in which a single agent must be a Jack or Jill-of-all-trades-master-of-none, Bold team members specialize in each aspect of buying and selling a home, including 67 different tasks associated with a closing, from appraisals and inspections to utility transfers.

“We do daily training with our team because we don’t just want to be agents; we are consultants. We want our team to be economists, knowledgeable about the local market. That’s what it takes to price your home right and get it sold—today.”

So right now isn’t time to hibernate.

It’s time to list.

BOLD Real Estate Consultants is associated with Keller Williams Greater Cleveland Southwest. Find them at 50 Pearl Road, Suite 106, in Brunswick. Call 440-879-7260 or visit BOLDRealEstateConsultants.com to complete a consultation request form.