Snow or no, it might be worth selling your home now

If you’re wanting to list your home this year, don’t wait on spring.

Yes, it snowed again this week. And while it may seem like more people enjoy house hunting in warmer weather, local market indicators suggest there’s no better time than now to hit the market.

Kevin Cranston, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Schneidmiller Realty, has been licensed in the area since 2005, and, full disclosure, he helped me list my own home during the winter season a few years back.

Cranston is a proponent of taking advantage of a market with reduced inventory.

“With fewer homes on the market, there is less competition and more opportunity to get a higher sales price,” Cranston said. “Even if you have fewer showings, chances are good you’ll have better showings. Buyers that are going to take time to view in the cold snowy weather are generally better motivated, qualified and serious buyers.”

Mortgage interest rates also recently hit a 12-month low, Cranston said, giving buyers greater purchasing power.

Sellers shouldn’t necessarily rush to the market either, Cranston said, at least not until a property passes a few key measures. Cranston shared his checklist for market success, and, again full disclosure, following these very tips helped me sell my home quickly and at an ideal price.

Priority No. 1 is hiring an experienced, full-time Realtor who works for a brokerage with a strong market presence, not just a family member or someone new to the business, Cranston said. Experience matters.

“Hiring the right agent is key,” he said. “Doing this will take care of most everything.”

More Cranston tips:

- Price the home based on realistic market comparisons.

- Have a strong marketing action plan.

- Utilize quality photography of exteriors and interiors — first impressions are everything.

- Clean, declutter and organize. Again, first impressions. Make the home look comfortable and appealing.

- Think like a buyer when staging and marketing your home. What appeals to buyers right now?

- Take your agent’s advice. If you hire a good agent, it will be nothing but good advice.

Of course selling the home is just one half of the process. Watching the market and knowing what you’re looking for in a new home is also key. If you’re operating without a game plan concerning your next home, then it may not be the best time to sell.

But worrying about snow is low on the list of considerations re: buying/selling your property.

“Of all the things to consider, the month on the calendar plays a relatively minor role in how well a property performs on the market,” Cranston said.

There are really two reasons a home doesn’t sell, he said.

“If it isn’t priced correctly or if it’s not getting the exposure.”

Contact Kevin Cranston of Coldwell Banker Schneidmiller Realty at 208-818-4050 or email him at kcranston@cbidaho.com.

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Real Estate Agents, take advantage of Neighborhood of the Week by sending in your suggestions for featured areas, including sites outside the confines of Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, Rathdrum and Hayden.