Get Ready: The Best Time To List Your House Is Almost Here

If you’re thinking about selling this spring, it’s time to get moving – the best week to list your house is fast approaching. Experts at realtor.com looked at seasonal trends from recent years (excluding 2020 as an uncharacteristic year due to the onset of the pandemic) and determined the ideal week to list a house this year: “Home sellers on the fence waiting for that perfect moment to sell should start preparations, because the best time to list a home in 2023 is approaching quickly. The week of April 16-22 is expected to have the ideal balance of housing market conditions that favor home sellers, more so than any other week in the year.” If you’ve been waiting for the best time to sell, this is your chance. But remember, before you put your house on the market, you’ve got to get it ready. And if you haven’t started that process yet, you’ll need to move quickly. Here’s what you should keep in mind.   Work with an Agent To Determine Which Updates To Make Start by prioritizing which updates you’ll make. In February, realtor.com asked more than 1,200 recent or potential home sellers what updates they ended up making to their house before listing it (see graph below):   As you can see, the most common answers included landscaping and painting. Work with a trusted real estate agent to determine what projects make the most sense for your goals and local market.   If Possible, Plan To Have Your House Staged Once you’ve made any necessary repairs and updates to your house, consider having it staged. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 82% of buyers’ agents said staging a home made it easier for a buyer to visualize the property as a future home. Additionally, almost half of buyers’ agents said home staging had an effect on most buyers’ view of the home in general. Homes that are staged typically sell faster and for a higher price because they help potential buyers more easily picture their new life in the house.   Are you ready to sell this spring? Contact a real estate agent to plan your next steps. You can start by making a checklist of what you think your house needs to get ready. Then, we can work together to prioritize your list and move forward together.

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Take Your Home from Drab to Fab with These Must-Try Outdoor Projects!

Spring is here! With warm weather on the way, it’s time to think about planting, cleaning, and upgrading our outside spaces. Which outdoor projects add the most value to your home? Check it out:   High-End Outdoor Kitchen Outdoor kitchens shot to popularity during the pandemic, and they’re sticking around. Why? They’re versatile, fun, and great for entertaining. They take outdoor gatherings and backyard grilling to the next level, offering a full suite of cooking appliances, running water, and prep space in one convenient outdoor spot. Forget about running back and forth from the indoor kitchen to the backyard; with an outdoor kitchen, no one has to miss out on a minute of the party. Additionally, an outdoor kitchen can help you save money on utility bills—especially during their highest-use time in the summer. Cooking outdoors helps reduce indoor heat buildup, decreasing the need for air conditioning. What about the ROI? According to Absolute Outdoor Kitchens, “CNN Money, About.com and Remodeling Magazine support that outdoor kitchens nationally return 100% to 200% of the improvement cost” when you go to sell later. Using the national average cost for an outdoor kitchen ($13,180), that means you’re adding anywhere between $13,180 and $26,360 to the value of your home. For maximum value boost, think about universally usable features that every buyer will love. For example, is your outdoor kitchen easily accessible from your house? Did you opt for top-of-the-line appliances? Does it have tons of counter space for easy prep? Don’t overlook the basics like storage and functional plumbing. Opulent finishes and clever gadgets could improve your enjoyment of the space—which is important—but if your main concern is resale value, think well-designed and highly functional.   Elegant Outdoor Living Area Build this space alongside your outdoor kitchen for the ultimate entertainment area and unequalable relaxation. How do you do it? Many homeowners treat the outdoor living space as an extension of indoor luxury, meaning you can let your indoor aesthetic flow right out onto the patio. This creates a unified look that makes your outdoor sanctuary feel like a cohesive part of your home. It’s a good idea to cover all or part of your retreat to protect it from wind, rain, and sun—and you can screen it in to keep the bugs out, too. When you think about furniture, consider aesthetics, durability, and comfort. You can opt for freestanding patio furniture, or go with something more permanent with cushioned built-ins. Next, invest in some outdoor patio heaters to make your space usable all year long. How much value can you expect an outdoor living space to add to your home? According to Better Homes & Gardens, just a patio or deck alone can add almost $20,000 in value. Boost it even more by keeping your region’s weather patterns in mind and designing accordingly.   Warm and Cozy Fireplace Picture it: you and your loved ones laughing and telling stories around a crackling fire—anytime you want, because it’s in your backyard. Whether you opt for a built-in stone fireplace or a freestanding firepit, the ROI for this feature is great. Home renovations in general typically return 70% of their cost when you sell your home, and the ROI for this project is around 78%. Those numbers are strictly monetary, which means they don’t factor in your improved quality of life or how much more you’ll enjoy your home when the project is complete. For maximum return on your investment, go for a natural-gas-fueled firepit and stick to good-looking but inexpensive materials.   Lovely Landscape Lush landscaping done by a professional is always valuable—and poor landscaping can reduce your home’s value by 30%. If you need to focus on one aspect, choose trees. Trees are the single most impactful landscaping element when it comes to home value, and just a single healthy tree can have a significant effect. Trees.com interviewed real estate expert David North, who said. “A tree is one of the most natural and interesting ways to add color, texture and contrast to any home’s yard. The natural beauty of a tree can be especially powerful when it distinguishes one property from others, whether by different shape, color, or size.” He goes on to explain that location is key—and planting a tree in the right spot will provide privacy, shade, and even noise protection.   Beautiful Outdoor Lights Done right, outdoor lighting is beautiful, functional, and improves the security of your property—and there are many types to mix and match. Start with spotlights that produce a narrow beam of light to highlight statement features like statues, trees, and water features. Enhance flowerbeds with small accent lights, and use pathway lights to illuminate paths and walkways, making it easier to navigate in the dark. Try wall-mounted lights to provide ambient lighting and enhance the appearance of your property, and finish up with string lights in your outdoor entertaining areas to add a whimsical touch. Outdoor lighting can be installed by an electrician and wired into your property’s main electrical system—but there are also solar lighting options that are self-charging. How does outdoor lighting impact your home’s value? According to NAR, it can add $2,500 to the bottom line on its own—but the real value is in the saleability and the way it improves curb appeal. The National Association of Home Builders recently published a study showing that exterior lighting is the most-wanted outdoor feature for homebuyers, with 42% calling it an essential must-have and another 45% calling it desirable. That’s a total of 87% of buyers looking for outdoor lighting in their home searches.   Decadent Water Feature Water features can include anything from a small, decorative fountain to a full pool and spa. Depending on what you choose, benefits can range from a nice visual focal point to protection from noise pollution to an opportunity for exercise and improved well-being. Combining features, such as a swimming pool or pond with a waterfall, will deliver maximum impact. You’ll get the beautiful aesthetic, the pleasant sound of running water, and a place of your own to swim or relax poolside. Incorporate underwater accent lighting to create the magical getaway feeling of a true backyard oasis. What kind of value boost does a water feature offer? That depends on the feature you install, where you install it, what types of materials you use, and of course, where you live. Overall, the main value of water features is the tranquil ambiance they create and the improvement they provide to your home’s curb appeal. Just remember that you have to maintain them. A damaged, dirty, or non-functioning water feature can actually devalue your home—and nobody wants that!   The exact value boost you’ll get depends on various factors, such as the location and size of your property, the type of irrigation system, and your local real estate market. It's always a good idea to consult with a local real estate agent to determine the specific value that any home feature can add to your home based on your location and the local market conditions.

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2023 Must Haves When Purchasing Your Home

Major design trends change cyclically and with major global events that alter our way of life. In 2020 and 2021, most people had to start spending far more time at home and as a result, new ideas took center stage in home design. Harsh lines and sterile colors started to go out of style in favor of cheerful shades and comforting curves—and that’s not all. Open concept has easily been the most-wanted floor plan for decades, but as entertaining large groups took a back seat to the need for privacy, that design has gotten a run for its money from more traditional floor plans with more walls and separate spaces. In the last few years, those features that maximize our living space for efficiency and comfort have come out on top, and they have staying power. If you’re shopping for a home, add these items to your must-have list for an ultra-modern aesthetic, a boost in home value, and improved function for life in 2023.   Backyard Oasis The backyard has evolved beyond basic—and it’s Zillow’s top must-have home feature for 2023. We’re not talking about a fenced rectangle of lawn anymore. Instead, we’re seeing extensions of the indoor living space into a full-blown outdoor retreat. The National Association of Home Builders reported a “large jump in the demand for exterior amenities, such as patios, decks and porches” as well as “walking paths and other outdoor spaces connected to the home.” Open-air entertaining spaces with firepits, built-in grills, bars, and even full outdoor kitchens have spiked in popularity—and as we move into spring, you’ll want to make sure you have one to get maximum enjoyment out of the nice weather. The addition of cozy outdoor seating creates the perfect spot for guests or solo relaxation, while a screened-in or covered patio will protect you from bugs and the elements.  Part of the appeal of a backyard oasis is to surround yourself with nature without leaving your property. You can create a lush, lively outdoor haven by working with a professional landscaping designer, or you can get creative and plan your own. Best practices include growing plants that are native to your area, thrive in your hardiness zone, and provide visual interest all year long. That means including some plants that bloom in spring, others that blossom in late summer, and some that provide that dazzling color show in the fall. Evergreen shrubs and winter berries are great for cold climates, too. Many homeowners are also planting edible gardens—and if this idea appeals to you, you’ll need to make sure you have the space for it when you’re home shopping.   Lighting Options Next, consider outdoor lighting options. If you’re shopping for a home with your backyard oasis complete, ask about this feature during the tour. For outdoor entertainment especially, exterior lighting plays a major role in mood and functionality. Look into different styles to match your aesthetic, and consider options that run on solar to reduce energy consumption. Pools, spas, and water features are up next. Mentions of pools in for-sale listings are up 11% this year so far. What styles are in for 2023? Natural pools maintained with plant life and pools and spas in organic shapes top out the lists. If you’re home shopping, your must-have list isn’t complete without a spectacular backyard oasis or the space to create your own. This feature helps you enjoy your entire home and property, and most importantly, improves your quality of life. Additionally, Realtor.com shared that if you plan to sell your home in the future, homes with a beautiful backyard sell faster and for more money than homes without.   At-home Privacy Up next: private spaces in the home. Open-concept floor plans shot to popularity in the 1970s and have ruled home design since the 1990s—but there is a drawback. Open floor plans don’t lend themselves to privacy, and with more people working and schooling from home than ever before, private spaces have become a necessity. If you need a place to make calls, study, do art, work, or work out without sound or interference from people in other rooms, consider a closed or partially closed floor plan. You’ll lose that straight-through sightline, but you’ll gain more peace and quiet. Another benefit of a closed floor plan is compartmentalization for your design. You don’t have to worry if each room coordinates with all the others, which means you can explore more than one color palette. You can also allow each member of your household to decorate their own spaces with their own tastes in mind—without disrupting the aesthetic of the rest of the home.   Flex Room Another nod to the need for privacy and functional spaces, the flex room has become a top desired feature for buyers in 2023. What’s a flex room? It’s a room in your home that can be used for a variety of purposes. You can utilize the space in a more traditional way as an office, guest room, or den. Or you can get creative and turn it into a home theater, crafting space, game room, home library—the possibilities are endless! The purpose of the flex room is to act as a versatile and functional space in the home that fulfills an assortment of needs. While you’re buying now, you want to think about functionality, style, and your current needs—but don’t forget the potential payoff of these features if you decide to sell down the line. In 2016, Consumer Reports shared that having a flex room can boost the value of your home by 4 to 6%. Since then, the desirability of this feature has only increased, making it more valuable still.   Laundry Room Redfin currently reports that laundry areas are in the top five most valuable home features among listings on their website. The median home price listing with a laundry room is $415,088, which is $31,839 or 8% more than the U.S. median home price of $383,249. Why is having a laundry room so valuable? Because it will help you keep your home clean, organized, and as stress-free as possible. No more piles of dirty clothes waiting to be washed or clean clothes waiting to be folded. Laundry and everything related to it lives in one spot, so the chore doesn’t occupy more physical or mental space than necessary. Adding a laundry room to your must-have list? Make it nicer by going beyond the utilitarian basics. According to research by Arm & Hammer, the average person spends about four hours and 48 minutes per month doing laundry—or nearly 58 hours a year! To make your time spent in the space more pleasant, paint it in a soothing color you enjoy, add shelving and organizers, and spring for the smart appliances.   Statement Kitchen Island While stunning chef’s kitchens with large islands have been at the top of buyer must-have lists for years, the kitchen island has taken on new importance in 2023. According to Kerrie Kelly, creative director at Kerrie Kelly Design Studio, “kitchen islands are being designed to accommodate dining and entertaining activities in the kitchen rather than the formal dining room. In 2023, we will see a surge of larger and even double kitchen islands using unique colors and materials." On the cutting edge of this trend, you’ll find boldly colored kitchen islands topped with materials we haven’t seen before. Look for pieces that offer lots of flexible seating, integrate stone, wood, and mixed metals, and incorporate vintage elements.   Curves, Arches, and Natural Elements In 2023, we’re moving away from cold grays and whites, harsh lines and angles, and artificial materials. Warm colors, natural materials like stone and wood, and built-in elements that incorporate living plants continue to rise in popularity. Large French doors and picture windows that bring the outside in have become more desirable as buyers look to connect with nature. Similarly, look for organic forms and curved shapes in upcoming architecture. Arches, round windows, and curved doorways are all fair game. You can double down on this aesthetic with round rugs and soft, curvy furniture.

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