It appears that spring has arrived and so has the Ann Arbor area spring market. Regardless of if you are planning on selling your home or not, here are a few suggestions to vastly improve your home’s curb appeal.
Power Wash the Exterior of Your Home. Renting a power washer from a local home improvement store is an affordable option. Power washing will freshen up your home’s exterior.
Paint Your Front Door. Consider painting your front door a warm, inviting shade to create a focal point. To give the exterior of your home a complete makeover, repaint the trim. Painting your front door and the trim will brighten your home and make it stand out from the curb.
Clear Away Dead Plants and Trees. Survey your yard for any dead plants and/or trees and remove them. Trim overgrown hedges and bushes to freshen up your landscape.
Plant Annuals and Perennials. Plant perennials and mix in annuals around your mailbox, walkways, front door and the perimeter of your home. Adding colorful blooming annuals will add energy, warmth, and cheer to your yard. Be sure to choose a variety of perennials and annuals that can survive the occasional overnight frost. This is Michigan, after all.
January and February sales broke records at Reinhart, beating 2011 by 46%. As March begins, we are achieving peak season (May – June) sales levels.
What does this mean? Buyers have sensed that prices and mortgage rates aren’t going lower and are anxious to act now. Sellers are experiencing more demand and enjoying shorter marketing times. Prices are moving up gradually in many areas and homes in move-in condition are selling quickly.
The result is a shortage of homes for the many buyers in the market. If you’ve been on the fence about selling your home, acting now could bring you a prompt sale at a better price.
Contact a Reinhart Realtor today for help creating your real estate plan.
We have been telling you about the listing shortage that has occurred due to the unusual fall surge of sales activity clearing out our inventory. There has been no letup in January or February.
The numbers of listings and sales have broken Reinhart records. The mild winter and an improvement in consumer confidence are factors. Also, continuing low mortgage rates and affordable home prices are bringing buyers into the market.
If you are like many people who would like to sell your home, but don’t want to make the wrong decision about timing, here are some things to consider. First, the law of supply and demand will drive prices up, but experts agree the climb will be very slow. Waiting for prices to increase is “lost opportunity” to improve your quality of life much sooner. Second, achieving the best price is more likely to occur when there are fewer homes on the market than there are buyers out shopping.
Our best advice is to list now, before the spring rush is in full swing, and it is a fact that the spring rush is starting earlier than usual this year!
Contact a Reinhart Realtor today for help creating your real estate plan.
We are pleased to welcome Jeff Hartlep to the Charles Reinhart Company!
Born and raised in Ann Arbor, Jeff earned a degree in Culinary Arts from Washtenaw Community College. Jeff worked as a Chef at Ann Arbor’s Real Seafood Co. after college. Prior to becoming a Realtor, Jeff gained valuable experience working as a sales representative for Sysco Food Services.
Jeff previously served as a Director on the Ann Arbor Area Board of Realtors as well as Director Liaison to the Education Committee. Jeff and his wife Sheri live on Portage Lake and are avid sailors. In his spare time Jeff enjoys cooking, traveling and entertaining friends.
Jeff Hartlep is working out of the Ann Arbor South Office – 500 East Eisenhower Parkway – and can be reached at (734) 669-5992 or jhartlep@reinhartrealtors.com.
2012 is off to a strong start in the Ann Arbor region. The improving local and national economies have helped people feel more confident about moving. An unusual fall rally has left the inventory of available properties low for this time of year.
Home prices are beginning to rise and we have moved toward a seller’s market in some areas, but economists are in agreement that change will be very slow. Waiting for values to approach where they were before the recession could take many years.
If you’ve been waiting to sell your home, consider acting now instead of waiting until spring. The balance has shifted and there are more buyers than sellers. Listing before the spring wave of homes hits the market can put your home in a more favorable competitive position and result in a higher price.
For sound advice and help creating your real estate plan, contact a Reinhart Realtor today.
2011 ended on a strong note for the housing market in the Ann Arbor region. The improving local economy has gotten people off the fence and out shopping for new homes. An unusual fall rally has left the inventory of available properties low as we being 2012.
Home prices are beginning to rise and we have moved toward a seller’s market in some areas, but economists are in agreement that change will be very slow. Waiting for values to approach where they were before the recession could take many years.
If you’ve been waiting to sell your home, consider acting now instead of waiting until spring. The balance has shifted and there are more buyers than sellers. Listing before the spring wave of homes hits the market can put your home in a more favorable competitive position and result in a higher price.
For sound advice and help creating your real estate plan, contact a Reinhart Realtor today.
Not Making a Plan
Whether you are moving across the country or across Washtenaw County, moving is a big job. To alleviate the stress of last minute planning and packing, create a schedule with a moving checklist. Real Simple has a great moving checklist.
Moving Things You No Longer Need
Not only do you waste money moving things you no longer need, you also waste time and energy. Before you begin packing, get rid of everything you don’t use or won’t need in your new home. Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley’s ReStore is a great place to donate what you no longer need.
Packing Poorly
Safely and securely pack your belongings. Invest in quality boxes, specifically designed for moving to ensure that your belongs will be safe. Be sure to accurately label boxes to save time when you are unpacking. Don’t wait until the last minute; begin by packing a few boxes a day so the process isn’t so overwhelming.
Hiring the Wrong Moving Company
A quality moving company can save you time, as well as the stress and energy of moving on your own. Reinhart recommends working with Stevens Worldwide Van Lines for their quality service and great value.
Reinhart Associates worked harder than ever under challenging economic conditions in 2011 to accomplish 2,267 successful transactions for our clients.
If you have any real estate needs in 2012, we have what it takes to do the job for you. Let us earn your business by helping you explore your options. We’ll explain pricing, financing, the new regulations and lay out the pathway for you to achieve your goals.
Start today by contacting a Reinhart Associate.
*Based on information from the Ann Arbor Area Board of Realtors Multiple Listing Service for the period of 01/01/2011 – 12/31/2011.
We are pleased to welcome Scott Courtney to the Charles Reinhart Company.
Scott received his B.A. in American Sign Language Interpreting from Williams Woods University. Hailing from Fairfax, Virginia, Scott moved to Ann Arbor 4 years ago. Prior to becoming a Realtor, Scott worked with the University of Michigan Health Systems, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, and the surrounding colleges and universities as an American Sign Language Interpreter.
In his spare time, Scott enjoys spending time with his family, playing tennis, golfing and riding his motorcycle.
Scott is working out of the Ann Arbor West Office – 2355 West Stadium Boulevard – and can be reached at (734) 665-0300 or scourtney@reinhartrealtors.com.
Is your home on the market this winter? We have a few tips to help you brighten your home during these winter months and make showing your home more pleasant and enjoyable for buyers.
- Clear a Path. When snow begins to fall, be sure to shovel a clear path to the front door. Make sure the driveway and walkways are free of snow and ice. Tip: sprinkle a light layer of sand over the sidewalk and steps.
- Let There Be Light. Pull up the blinds and push back the drapes to let in as much natural light as possible. Turn on every light in the house as well to make your home bright and inviting. Tip: brighten dark rooms by placing spotlights on the floor behind furniture.
- Turn Up the Heat. Keep the temperature comfortable. You may want to set your thermostat one or two degrees warmer than usual and set it as normal, prior to the arrival of buyers. This will prevent the heat from loudly kicking on when the buyer is present.
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