You Haven’t Missed Your Window

Summer is winding down, the kids are back in school, and fall is right around the corner. If you’ve been thinking about selling your home in Parker, you may be wondering if you waited too long.

Should you just hold off until next spring?

Not necessarily. In fact, fall can still be a very good time to sell a home.

According to data from the National Association of Realtors, roughly one-third of existing home sales take place during the final four months of the year.

That’s an important number because it tells us something we see in real estate every year: buyers don’t suddenly disappear after Labor Day.

There Are Still Plenty of Buyers Looking for Homes

Spring and early summer traditionally get most of the attention in real estate. But homes are bought and sold every month of the year.

And the buyers who are looking during the fall can be some of the most serious buyers in the market.

They may be relocating to the Denver area for a new job. Their current home may have just sold. They may want to get settled before the holidays. They may have been searching all summer and simply haven’t found the right home yet.

Whatever their reason, they aren't casually browsing. Many of these buyers have a reason to make a move.

Based on current forecasts from Fannie Mae, the Mortgage Bankers Association, the National Association of Realtors and Wells Fargo, approximately 4.16 million existing homes are expected to sell this year.

Based on sales so far, that would mean roughly 1.4 million homes could sell between now and the end of December.

That works out to approximately 11,800 homes selling every day this fall.

The housing market certainly hasn't stopped.

The Parker Real Estate Market Doesn't Shut Down in the Fall

After living in Parker since 1987 and selling homes here for more than 20 years, we've watched the market go through just about every kind of cycle.

One thing we've learned is that there isn't one "perfect" month to sell a house.

The right time to sell depends much more on your home, your competition, your personal plans and the current market than it does on what month happens to be on the calendar.

Fall can actually offer sellers an advantage.

There are typically fewer homes competing for buyers' attention than during the busy spring and early-summer selling season. And while there may be fewer buyers overall, the buyers who remain in the market often have a stronger reason to purchase.

That creates an opportunity — if your home is positioned correctly.

Pricing Matters Even More in Today's Market

The days of simply putting a home on the market, picking an optimistic price and waiting for multiple offers are behind us.

Today's buyers have more choices, and they're paying attention to value.

That's why determining the correct asking price from the beginning is so important.

Price your home too high and buyers may simply pass it by. Once a home accumulates days on the market, buyers often begin wondering what's wrong with it — even when there's absolutely nothing wrong.

Price it correctly, however, and you give yourself a much better opportunity to attract attention while your listing is fresh.

Our goal isn't simply to put a sign in the yard and see what happens.

Our goal is to position your home to compete and sell.

Presentation Can Make a Huge Difference

Price gets buyers interested. Presentation helps them fall in love with the house.

Before we list a home, we look at it through the eyes of a prospective buyer.

What should be repaired?

What should be updated?

Should anything be removed or rearranged?

Would a little paint make a difference?

Are there inexpensive improvements that could make the home show considerably better?

Cheryl's approximately 20 years of experience in interior design and custom-home consulting can be particularly valuable during this part of the process. Sometimes relatively small changes can dramatically improve the way buyers perceive a home.

The objective isn't necessarily to spend a lot of money.

It's to spend money where it will make a difference.

Your First Showing Usually Happens Online

Years ago, the first showing happened when a buyer walked through the front door.

Today, it happens on a phone, tablet or computer.

Buyers may look at dozens of homes online before deciding which ones deserve an in-person showing. That means your photography, property description, presentation and overall marketing need to immediately give buyers a reason to stop scrolling and take a closer look.

You only get one opportunity to introduce your home to the market.

We want to make that introduction count.

Should You Sell This Fall or Wait Until Spring?

There isn't one answer that applies to every homeowner.

Waiting until spring may make sense for some sellers. For others, listing this fall could be the better decision.

The important thing is to make that decision based on facts rather than assumptions.

Before deciding, we recommend looking at:

• What your home is realistically worth in today's market

• How many comparable homes are currently for sale

• How much competition you would have

• How quickly similar homes are selling

• What buyers are currently paying

• What improvements, if any, would help your home sell

• Your estimated proceeds after the sale

• And, most importantly, what works best for your personal situation

Once you know those numbers, deciding whether to sell now or wait becomes much easier.

The Bottom Line

If you're thinking about selling your home in Parker, Castle Rock, Franktown, Elizabeth, Highlands Ranch, Centennial, Aurora or another nearby Denver metro community, you haven't necessarily missed your opportunity just because summer is ending.

Homes will continue to sell throughout the fall and into the holidays.

The question isn't whether homes are selling.

The question is what it will take to make yours one of them.

We're Bob and Cheryl Bustin with the Parker Colorado Home Center at RE/MAX Alliance. We've lived in Parker since 1987, and Cheryl has been helping buyers and sellers with their real estate needs since 2005.

If you're considering selling, we'd be happy to take a look at your home, review the recent comparable sales and current competition, and give you our opinion of what your home could realistically sell for in today's market.

No pressure and no obligation. Just good information so you can decide whether selling this fall — or waiting until later — makes the most sense for you.