After showing homes today and coming across one where the seller clearly isn’t ready to sell (the poor listing agent is fighting an uphill battle…) I have
been thinking about all the potential sellers who just don’t know what to do or where to begin..

The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.” ~source unknown

I’ve been asked time and time again by homeowners, “When should I sell?” And the answer is different each time because the right time for each of us varies, depending on our own personal circumstances.

Now in the early spring of 2012, inventory is lower than it’s been in a long time, prices are still relatively low, interest rates are definitely low, and more homes are needed to meet the demand of recently qualified buyers! One of my own listings had multiple offers last week and I have heard many agents talking about bidding wars…good news for potential sellers!

So you are still just thinking about it and trying to decide. So many questions. Where do you begin? Are you ready to sell, emotionally, financially? Is the house ready?
How will your house compare to all the other homes that will be coming up for sale, the one around the corner, down the street or perhaps, right next door…Your neighbor has been talking about moving for a while now…

You are wondering – how many qualified buyers will be there to snatch up this new inventory? Will interest rates be as desirable in the fall, as they are right now? Will prices have increased, stabilized or dropped again as many in the industry once predicted? How will the global economy impact the sale of your home, the availability of mortgage money?

I certainly don’t know the answer to these questions and for most homeowners, these questions are not the most important ones you should be asking yourself or your Realtor®.

Regardless of the season, ask yourself these questions instead;

Am I truly happy here, or are the memories of the past keeping me from moving on?
Can I afford this home, the mortgage, the taxes, the necessary upkeep and repairs?
Does the size of this house fit my needs and my family, is it too big or too small?
How does living here impact my quality of life, is it too remote, too urban, too high maintenance?
Is living near family and close friends an important factor in my decision to stay or move?
How far do I want to commute to work every day?
Is the community, the culture, the personality of the town I select, one that I feel comfortable with?
Would a home of a different style, size, price range, town, climate, landscape better suit my budget, my age, my physical condition, my lifestyle, my dreams?

In truth, most of us know when it’s time to go, we just need a little convincing, a lot of emotional support and in most cases, a handyman, some serious de-cluttering, and some staging combined with a carefully orchestrated yard sale.

Many people are under the impression that they must sell their house in the spring, partially due to the real estate industry’s emphasis on the “spring market”. It is a phrase that is widely used to refer to the end of the dreary New England winter in late March and early April when spirits are high and the melting of the ice and snow brings new hope, renewed energy and new life. It is a good time to market your home, but only if its market ready – If its not ready now, a Realtor will help you figure out what to do to get it ready for the Fall market.

(portions of this article appeared in the Framingham Patch in August of 2011)

http://framingham.patch.com/articles/how-do-you-know-when-its-time-to-go#photo-7419366