Should You Sell Your Home During the Holidays?

Selling your home? Wondering if it's a good idea to keep it going during the holidays?

The holidays can create some special challenges when you're selling your home.

Staging a home for sale often means you need to be thoughtful about decorations – drawing attention where needed without overwhelming would-be buyers. Sellers are usually advised to go easy on exterior lights and to stand ready for a tour right up until the last week of the year.

There are market challenges, too: Research has shown buyers looking for a deep discount have their best bet in December, which features some of the lowest average sale prices of the whole year. Sellers contend with a risk that staying on the market over the winter may cost them.

But does that mean selling your home is a no-go over the holidays?

1. Many Sellers Will Leave the Market
   Inconvenience, rather than any financial factor, drives many sellers to put their plans on pause in November and December. As the housing stock gets smaller, your property has more of an opportunity to shine. In fact, you may even have the chance to attract multiple bids. That compares very favorably to spring and summer when markets move fast and buyers are flush with options.
2. Buyers Are More Motivated
   Buyers have less to lose than sellers when it comes to waiting a month or two. However, that means only the most motivated buyers will be left in December. If you live in an area with harsh winter cold and snow, you're even more likely to meet mainly the buyers who are focused on getting a transaction done fast. That can make things easier for you, from negotiations to the closing process.
3. Remote Marketing Helps You Maintain Momentum
   With the huge transformation real estate has undergone in 2020, selling your home is no longer reliant on in-person meetings. Virtual tours and showings have come into their own. With less travel to worry about, more buyers will stick with the process. Plus, all the effort you put into renovating and staging your home before the sale is still worthwhile. Your real estate agent will make sure your virtual tour shows off all the property's features.
4. Your Whole Real Estate Team is Ready
   Getting to the closing day is a major undertaking. It requires experts: Home inspectors, mortgage brokers, real estate agents, title companies, lawyers, and many more. Luckily, many of these folks work extra hard to end the year on a high note. Since they are dealing with fewer customers on average in the winter, they can give your transaction more personal attention and get you where you need to go.
5. Closing is Faster Than Ever Before
   Closing is the very last step in selling your home. Here, the buyer and seller get together one last time to sign important paperwork that transfers ownership of the property. In the past, this process has often taken hours. Nowadays, however, it can all be done in a small fraction of the time. With a so-called "drive-by closing," you may not even need to leave your car. And you still end the day with your proceeds in hand!

Selling your home during the holidays isn't right for everyone. If you have a busy holiday schedule or want to focus on other priorities, waiting might be the right move for you. Contact a trusted local real estate agent for guidance personalized to your situation.

6 Boredom-Busting Ideas for Home DIY Projects

If you're like most homeowners, you used your time during the early months of the quarantine to take care of all the home improvement projects on your list. Now, you might be getting bored and wondering what to do next. 

Don't worry, we've got six ideas for fun home improvement DIYs that you're sure to love. They're easy to complete in a single weekend and will totally transform your space. 

1. Hang Some Rope Shelves
   From small plants and decor to picture frames and candles, there are many ways to decorate a beautiful set of hanging rope shelves. This project creates a beautiful aesthetic display without taking up too much wall space. You'll want to use strong rope and lightweight or hollow shelves. Make sure that everything is anchored properly for the amount of weight it will hold. If you're going to add some heavier items, don't forget to reinforce the ceiling for extra strength.
   
   
2. Build an Entryway Bench
   Sure, you could buy a bench for a few hundred dollars, but why do that when you can easily build one on your own? Like any home improvement project, you'll want to spend some time thinking about the design. Once you know what you want it to look like, head to the lumberyard and pick up some inexpensive wood. When you've finished building your bench, don't forget to cover it with comfortable cushions and pillows. You can buy some at the store or create a new project by making you own with repurposed blankets or sheets.
    
3. Update Your Interior Doors
   One of the easiest and most impactful home improvement projects is simply refreshing your interior doors. You can keep this as simple as adding a fresh coat of paint or some trim. If you're willing to take on something more dramatic, redo them in a completely new color and style. You'll be amazed by how much this changes the look of your interior space.
    
4. Install New Kitchen Hardware
   Want to modernize your kitchen without taking on a major remodeling project? Update the hardware! This simple home improvement can make your kitchen feel brand-new. There's a reason why hardware is sometimes referred to as the "jewelry" of the kitchen. It can go a long way towards pulling your kitchen design together while also giving it an upscale look. Some of the things you might want to change out include the cabinet hardware, lighting fixtures, and faucets.
    
5. Add a New Bathroom Backsplash
   Updating your bathroom backsplash is another easy home improvement that can have a major impact. This will allow you to bring a new style and some extra texture to the space. If you're worried this might be too big of a home improvement project, consider skipping the traditional tile and using stick-on tile instead. This will give you a gorgeous effect without the hassle.
    
6. Build a New Headboard
   Does your spare bedroom need a bit of a refresh? You don't have to spend a fortune on a new platform bed. Instead, create a rustic-chic look by picking up some wooden boards and building your own headboard. Not only will you save a ton of money, but every time you look at your new home improvement, you'll feel a sense of pride. 

We think the best home improvement projects are ones that help you to add a personal touch to your home. Each of these suggestions will do just that! Which one will you start first? 

Easy Landscaping DIY Projects

Ever get the itch to do a DIY project? Whenever I do, my favorites involve getting outdoors and mixing up our landscaping features.

Whether it's as simple as installing some lighting or a little more time-consuming like re-plotting plants, a fresh look for the lawn always gives your home a fresh look as well. Here are our top five easy landscaping projects!

Create a pathway.

To guide you and visitors throughout your yard and link different areas together, install a pathway. You can use materials from a variety of materials, including reclaimed pallet wood, flagstones, gravel, and more to add texture and color.

Add a wall or border.

Installing a flagstone, rock, or brick wall around flower beds or trees adds a sleek, clean look to your landscaping and helps separate different sections of your yard.

Install a water feature.

Nothing says zen quite like the sound of trickling water as you relax in your backyard. You can start simple with by purchasing and installing a small feature powered by a solar panel or create a larger focal point in your yard by installing a waterfall wall or small pond.

Light your way.

An easy way to transform your yard is to strategically use lighting. Place cool-colored lights high in trees to recreate a moonlight feel, use pathway lights to naturally guide the eye, or highlight objects or plants.

Plant upwards.

Expand your yard space by drawing the eye to the sky with a trellis fence or screen made of wood or metal. Once you install your trellis, select your climbing plants and vines and get to planting!

Create An Evacuation Plan for Your Pets

An evacuation plan is a necessity for every home, especially if you live in an area where fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding, and other disasters are a possibility. Many homeowners create evacuation plans for their homes and practice them with their kids, but far fewer have considered one for their pets. Take these steps to add your pets to your evacuation plan.

Assign pet evacuation to an adult. Everyone should know how to act during an evacuation, and that includes assigning one parent or adult to the pets. This allows the other parent and the children to focus on their part of the evacuation plan, so there’s no confusion during a high-stress moment when time is of the essence.

Keep evacuation maps and pet carriers readily accessible. If you need to evacuate, you should know exactly where every important item is. If you pets require carriers, keep them in a place that you can access easily.

Practice your plan. Include your pets in your home evacuation drills. It’ll help you see how they will respond and make changes to your plan if necessary. Getting your dog out of a window may not be as simple as you think!

Be prepared in case you get separated from your pets. No matter how much you drill your evacuation plan, it’s possible that a dog or cat will run off while you’re focusing on keeping your family safe. A microchip or a GPS-compatible tag can help you find your pets once it’s safe to return to the area.

Ever wish you could become one of those rare morning people? The ones that wake with a start, feeling refreshed and energized. The ones that get in that morning workout or wrap up some work before many of us even hit the snooze button for the first time. Here are five tips to help you achieve that early bird status!

1. Create a morning schedule. Physically write down the things you’d like to complete in the morning and set a time for each. Then stick with it. Once you force yourself out of bed early one or two weeks consistently, you’ll find it gets easier and easier to do.
2. Let the light in. Whether natural or artificial, light tells your brain its time to get up and get going. If your room lacks large windows where you can open the blinds up, consider investing in a timed lamp or alarm clock with a light.
3. Prep and eat breakfast. Although there are many of us who chose the skip breakfast, it is key to perking up your energy in the morning. Try prepping protein-focused meals the night before or grab a yogurt or fruit and try to consume it right after you wake.
4. Get your body moving. Whether it’s a short walk around your neighborhood or a rigorous 5:30 am spin class, getting your blood pumping will help wake up your body and has a ton of other benefits, like stress and anxiety reduction.
5. Feed your mind. Stimulate your brain and do something you enjoy first thing in the morning. Try reading a favorite book, catching up on the news, doing daily meditation, or setting intentions.