Will your home be ready when the market is?

It's widely known that we're still in a buyer's market. Just as many experts predicted the housing market correction over the last 2 years, there is a growing consensus that in 6-9 months we could see a significant flattening or even modest upturn in market price and sales volume as inventories are beginning to dwindle.

If you've been thinking about upgrading, downsizing, relocating, etc., your home over the next year or so, there is a golden opportunity right now to prepare.

Examine your home, or better yet ask a real estate agent to assist (at no cost of course); discover what really needs to be done to make your home stand out when the time comes to put it on the market. Just as importantly, learn what not-to-do as well. Some improvements will add little or nothing to the market value of your home, or make it more appealing to the emerging boomer buyer market as buyer trends are constantly changing.

Have you been putting off painting, landscaping, kitchen and/or bathroom upgrades, roof, driveway sealing, drywall repairs, flooring etc? All these projects take time, and if the current market has taught us anything, it's that homes must be move-in ready, and up to date in order to sell in a timely fashion. So, don't wait til 3 weeks prior to listing your property before taking care of these important issues both inside and out.

Remember, "The home that has great curb appeal and is up to date in both kitchen & bathroom fixtures and appliances always selles the fastest", assuming its priced according to the market of course.