Is this a Good Time to List my House?

Just yesterday I was asked by a seller, "Is this a good time to list my house?"
The answer: YES.

Why? Well, all the competing properties that were listed over the Spring and Summer have either sold or have come off the market due to being over priced. There is very little competition right now. As long as you can tolerate a closing in the winter it is a great time to put your house on the market! In fact, in certain neighborhoods, you will be the only house for sale and we all know there are always buyers, who are ready, willing and able to buy.... Right?

Yes! There are always buyers.

In an ideal world, we would all move on a nice sunny day in May but that isn't how it works. Jobs change. Families grow. Couples marry and divorce. 30 year old college graduates finally get that job and move out of Mom's basement. People have to move year round. I have a friend in Louisville who sold her house and is desperately looking for a new house, right now, but there isn't much out there. You think there are sellers in Kentucky waiting until Spring who are missing out on this buyer? Most definitely.

I have a buyer whose family is living in Greece and they will be relocating back to the U.S. at the end of December due to a job transfer. Yes, we will be spending the holiday break that the kids get from school, looking at houses.

YES, yes, yes! It is a great time to list your house.

Don't wait until everyone else on your street also has a sign in their yard. One of their houses could look better than yours. If you are the only house available, you have a greater chance of selling. Also, more quickly which means less hassle with showings!

Oh, Baby!

What a year this has been. I realize now that Halloween is already next week, and that 2014 will be coming to an end so soon.

My year sure did start off with a bang. I was pregnant with my second child and the little cutie pie arrived January 20th. There was a snowstorm on the 19th and another on the 21st. This kid had great timing.  I hadn't prepared to take traditional maternity leave. As an independent contractor, I don't get paid leave so I just thought to myself that I would take it easy for about 6-8 weeks after she was born. Also- it was the snowiest, iciest, nastiest winter I ever remember since moving to Cincinnati so who would really want to be out there buying and selling houses?

Well, lots of folks. Great people who were unfortunately relocating during a bad winter.

So, I ended up not taking it slow. In fact, I picked up the pace and the month my daughter was born was a personal best. I only turned away one client during this time and that was due to their timing coinciding with the week I came home from the hospital. My husband the police officer thought it was a bad idea if I drove clients around in the snow while on strong pain meds, so I did say no to one. It was soooo hard to do!

I am not writing this for people to feel sorry for me for not getting maternity leave as this was 100% my choice. I also hope that others do not judge a working Mom as we all do what is best for ourselves and our families. I wanted to continue to work. I enjoy it and I enjoyed my new baby so much more this time around. A big reason was that I wasn't cooped up in the house during the most depressing winter. I got to snuggle with her and also leave the house with a purpose. I bonded with her just as well as I did with my first. I don't work 12 hour days so it was great! Very tiring, but wonderful.

So, the year just kept getting better and better and has been my best year for sales since I started the business. I am grateful and proud. I wish all working Moms and Dads could have the flexibility and success that I have experienced this year.

I want to say thank you. For the support, the kind words, the babysitting, the referrals, the business and the trust. Here is to ending the year with a bang, just not another baby!