Selling Your First Home This Spring? Here’s How Thinking Like a First-Time Buyer Can Help

When you bought your first home, there was no shortage of advice. From mortgage tips to house hunting strategies, the world was full of guidance for first-time buyers. But now that you’re on the selling side for the first time, it might feel like you’re supposed to just know what you’re doing since you’re not completely new to the process.

Selling a home isn’t just buying in reverse. It comes with its own set of challenges, decisions, and potential missteps. Maybe you’re wondering how much to list for, whether you really need to repaint the living room, or why your agent is asking you to leave the house every time there’s a showing. If any of this sounds familiar, don’t sweat it—your past buying experience is about to come in handy!

If you can remember what made a home appealing (or a dealbreaker) when you were looking, you’ll have a much better shot at getting your own home sold quickly and for the best possible price.

Put Yourself Back in the Buyer’s Shoes!

As a first-time seller, it’s easy to focus on what you want from the sale. But the key to success is understanding what buyers are looking for. Think back to when you were house-hunting—what turned you off? What made you fall in love with a home? What aggravated you when you were looking at houses?

In case it’s been a while since you were in those shoes, let’s take a look at some of the things you probably noticed as a buyer, and use those insights to make your home as appealing as possible.

1. Price It Right from the StartRemember those overpriced homes you scrolled past because they didn’t seem worth it? Or the ones that sat on the market so long you assumed something was wrong with them?Buyers today have access to endless data, and they won’t hesitate to move on if your price doesn’t align with reality. Work with an agent to set a competitive, market-driven price from the beginning to avoid unnecessary price drops and delays.
2. Make It Easy to ShowWhen you were looking for houses, there were probably a few sellers who made it almost impossible for you to see it at the time you wanted to, or had really limited times they allowed buyers to come see their house.It’s frustrating, and often results in buyers moving on to a more accessible home. The more flexible you are with showings, the more potential buyers will get to see your home. And more buyers can lead to more (and better!) offers.
3. First Impressions MatterRemember walking into a house and instantly knowing it wasn’t for you? Maybe the curb appeal was lacking, or the inside felt dark and cluttered. First impressions are everything.Make sure your home is welcoming—fresh landscaping, a well-lit entryway, and a neutral, tidy interior can make all the difference.
4. Declutter and DepersonalizeThink about that one home you toured where every wall was covered in family photos, or the kitchen was overflowing with personal items. You probably took a quick look around to make sure the seller didn’t have a hidden camera behind one of their knick-knacks before joking about the family portrait from 1987!It’s hard for buyers to picture themselves in a space that feels too much like someone else’s home. Clear the clutter, remove personal items, and create a clean, blank slate that buyers can envision as their own.
5. Address Small Repairs Before They Become Big IssuesBuyers will notice that leaky faucet, the peeling paint, or the door that won’t quite close. While these might seem like minor details, they can leave buyers wondering what else has been neglected. Taking care of small fixes ahead of time signals that your home has been well-maintained and can prevent last-minute negotiation headaches.
6. Smell Matters More Than You ThinkYou probably walked into a home or two that made you recall a friend or family member’s home, which can be a nice walk down memory lane… as long as the home it reminded you of didn’t reek of strong pet odors or lingering food smells!Even if a home looks great, bad odors can be an instant dealbreaker. Before listing, do a deep clean, air out the house, and consider neutral scents to create a fresh, inviting atmosphere.
7. Listen to FeedbackWhen you were a buyer, you probably had opinions about nearly every home you toured, and there’s a good chance your agent shared those thoughts with the seller’s agent.Now that you’re the seller, expect the same from buyers—and don’t take it personally. If multiple people mention the same issue (like an outdated bathroom or a pricing concern), consider making adjustments to improve your chances of selling quickly.
8. Trust Your Real Estate Agent’s AdviceIt might be your first time selling a home, but for a real estate agent, it’s what they do every day. A seasoned agent brings valuable expertise from both the buying and selling side, ensuring you price your home correctly, market it effectively, and navigate negotiations smoothly.They’ll also help you anticipate potential challenges before they become roadblocks, making the entire process as seamless as possible.

The Takeaway:

Selling your first home can feel overwhelming, but if you shift your mindset and think like a buyer, you’ll set yourself up for success. Price it right, make it easy to show, and present your home in the best possible light. And most importantly, work with a knowledgeable agent who can guide you through the process.

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When it comes to selling your home, curb appeal is your secret weapon—so make it pop! It’s not just about those gorgeous flowers and a lawn that looks like it just stepped out of a magazine; your siding, roof, and gutters are all part of the big picture. Ready to make a killer first impression? Let’s dive into some fabulous tips!

First off, give your front door a makeover! Slap on a bold, inviting color that plays nice with your home’s exterior. It’ll be the star of the show, radiating warmth and welcome vibes. Next, jazz up your landscaping with seasonal blooms or snazzy decorative planters for that instant “wow” factor!

Keep those pathways and driveways looking sharp. Fix up any cracks or bumps that might shout “neglect!” And don’t forget to sprinkle in some outdoor lighting to create a magical glow as the sun sets—who doesn’t love a little nighttime charm?

Oh, and those house numbers? Make them stand out and stylish! A tiny detail that packs a punch in the overall look.

Let’s not overlook your windows! Give them a thorough scrub so they shine bright and consider adding shutters or window boxes for that extra flair.

A good power wash can do wonders for your house, patio, and sidewalks—making everything look fresh and fabulous!

Get a roof and gutter tune-up, with that you will be able to know also what is going on with the roof and the shape it is in before you list your house for sale.

And remember, fresh landscaping is like a cherry on top, making your home feel super inviting.

A well-kept exterior doesn’t just elevate curb appeal; it sends a clear message to potential buyers: this home is loved and cared for, which might just speed up that sale!

Need more tips or looking to sell your house, contact me anytime.

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Buying an abandoned home could present an opportunity to snag a property at a bargain price. But before you decide to start shopping for abandoned properties, there are things you need to know.

A recent article from realtor.com outlined key things buyers need to know about buying abandoned properties, including:

• You’ll need to get pre-qualified/pre-approved for a mortgage. If you want to buy an abandoned property, you’ll need to follow the same process as buying any other type of real estate, including getting a pre-qualification or pre-approval letter for a mortgage. This will give you an idea of how much budget you have to work with, which will inform what properties might be a right fit.
• The right search terms can help you find abandoned properties. Want to explore abandoned properties in your area? When searching listings, use search terms that might indicate a property is abandoned or unclaimed, like “immediate possession,” “below market value,” “must sell,” or “under appraisal.”
• It’s important to understand the risks. Buying an abandoned home can be a risky investment; for example, an abandoned home that’s been vacant for years could have a number of maintenance issues, including wiring issues, water leaks, or gas leaks — all of which could be expensive to repair. Make sure you fully understand the risks (and potential costs) before making an offer.

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I hope you’re warm and snug in this winter wonderland! I have something truly delightful just in time for Valentine’s Day. I’d like to invite you to my fabulous Open House this Saturday, February 15th, from noon to 2:00 PM at my exciting new listing: 2825 Settler’s View Drive in Odenton. Not looking for a home yourself? No problem! Perhaps you know someone who is and can help spread the word!

Wishing you a Happy Valentine’s Day, and please stay safe out there!

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Ditching the Dining Room: Trendy or a Total Mistake?

Check out this article on whether a dining room is in or out for you.

When it comes to home design, trends come and go faster than you can say “shiplap.” Every year, articles flood the internet with predictions from design experts and real estate professionals about what’s in and what’s out. One year, it’s all about farmhouse chic; the next, mid-century modern reigns supreme.

Let’s be real, though. Most people don’t pay much attention to any subtle shifts in decor. Who has the time or budget to spend on it year after year?!

But among all the shifting fads 2025 is predicted to bring about, a larger question has surfaced…

Is the dining room—an entire category of space—on the verge of extinction?

While jumping on the bandwagon of most home trends isn’t a big deal, hearing that the formal dining room is on its way out could have a major impact on your decision-making process if you’re a homeowner contemplating renovations or a prospective buyer weighing options in the coming year.

So, should you ditch your dining room? Maybe. Maybe not. The choice is yours, but it’s always better to make it with all the facts on the table—whether that table sits in a dining room or not.

What the Numbers Say (Or Don’t Say) About Dining Rooms

A recent article from the New York Post posed that very question, and while the article didn’t settle the debate one way or the other, they did suggest that they’re on the way out according to real estate experts:

“Realtor.com® analysts noted that only 25% of properties listed in the U.S. have a dining room. However, this number may not actually reflect the true number of houses with dining rooms— only that realtors aren’t highlighting them in the listing.”

There are a number of factors that would impact that percentage, but any real estate agent will tell you dining rooms are alive and well in more than one in four homes on the market. However, calling them a hot commodity might be a stretch.

The way people use their homes has evolved—a shift accelerated by the pandemic. Suddenly, dining rooms became home offices, classrooms, or workout spaces. For some, they’ve never gone back to their original purpose.

Yet, dining rooms aren’t universally unwanted. Just take a quick glance at the online comment section of that article in the Post and you’ll see that people are clearly divided. Some love dining rooms, some don’t, and others just want the option to customize the space. Many buyers still love the idea of a dedicated space for family meals or hosting holiday dinners, while others prefer an open floor plan where dining, living, and kitchen areas blend seamlessly.

Welcome to the world of real estate—where no single design choice pleases everyone.

Technically It’s Something You Can Change…

Real estate agents often advise buyers not to fixate on cosmetic elements that are easily changed about a house, like paint color, light fixtures, kitchen cabinets, or even the layout of a house if it can be renovated to their liking.

So, technically speaking, it’s a changeable feature, but remodeling to add or remove a dining room can be a major undertaking.

Why? Because dining rooms are often tied to the structural layout of a home. Removing one might mean tearing down walls, potentially load-bearing ones, and reworking the flow of adjoining spaces, and probably will entail renovating each of those rooms as well. Adding one could involve a similarly hefty renovation. Neither option is cheap or simple.

So, if you’re considering a renovation, the question isn’t just can you do it, but should you? Will the investment pay off when you sell? Or will it alienate buyers who might have preferred the space’s original use? Real estate is a delicate balancing act, and understanding your market is crucial.

The Risk of Going Rogue With Renovations

One of the biggest mistakes many homeowners make is diving into major renovations without consulting a local real estate agent. Agents have a finger on the pulse of buyer preferences in your area and can provide valuable insights. It’s common for sellers to find that they spent tens of thousands of dollars on a project that didn’t produce a positive return on their investment—or worse, makes their home more difficult to sell.

For example, if most buyers in your market value traditional dining rooms, converting yours into an open concept kitchen / family room area might not go over well. On the flip side, if dining rooms are considered outdated in your area, adding one might not add as much value as you’d hope. The key is to align your renovation plans with what buyers are looking for in your price range and neighborhood.

If you’re planning to stay in your home for years to come, the decision isn’t as critical. Renovate in a way that suits your lifestyle and makes your home more enjoyable for your family. After all, you should enjoy where you live!

However, if there’s a chance you’ll sell in the near future, your choices might need to reflect broader market trends. This is where your agent’s expertise becomes invaluable. They can help you gauge whether buyers in your area prioritize dining rooms or if other features take precedence.

Before choosing to do major renovation, especially if you are altering the way the space is used, it never hurts to speak with your local agent—they can help you make a more informed decision than an article about the latest trends.

The Takeaway:

Are dining rooms becoming a thing of the past? For some, they’re still very much a room they want and expect in a home. For others, they’re a useless room they’d rather convert into something else. As with most real estate questions, the answer isn’t one-size-fits-all.

Before making any major changes to your home—especially those that alter how a space is used—consult a local real estate expert. They can provide the perspective you need to make informed decisions based upon your local area. Understanding what buyers value in your market can save you time, money, and headaches down the road.

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If real estate agents earned a dollar every time they heard someone say, “I’m waiting until the new year to buy a house,” they wouldn’t retire rich, but it might be enough to fill up their gas tank…with premium!

They start hearing buyers say this just before the holidays, often from buyers who’ve spent months searching for their dream home. And the reasoning seems sound—December is hectic, inventory shrinks, and many hope for better options or lower rates in the new year.

However, there aren’t always drastic or noticeable changes to the real estate market the minute the confetti is cleaned up in Times Square on January 1st, which often leads to many home buyers following a similar pattern in the new year.

The Predictable Pattern of “New Year” Buyers

Here’s a prediction: many buyers who postponed their home search until the new year will follow a strikingly familiar arc to this in the coming months.

• They’ll begin the year excited and optimistic about buying a house in the coming year.
• In the first couple of months they’ll feel like the market hasn’t changed enough yet because rates haven’t dropped significantly or inventory hasn’t ballooned.
• They’ll feel like there’s plenty of time in a year and decide to wait until the spring market officially begins to get serious about looking for a house.
• Spring arrives, bringing more listings…but also more competition.
• They struggle to stand out in bidding wars, losing out to better-prepared buyers.
• They’ll decide to pause their house-hunting efforts for a little while and wait until competition dies down, or more houses hit the market.
• Summer will come and they’ll blame vacations for a lack of inventory, or their reason for not being able to look at houses.
• The holidays return, and they’re back to saying, “We’ll wait until next year.”

Sound familiar? If so, don’t feel bad, it’s a cycle agents witness many buyers go through each year. But the beginning of 2025 might hold a subtle, game-changing opportunity to help you avoid repeating it, while other buyers fail to recognize the opportunity at hand!

What Most Buyers Will Do (and Why You Shouldn’t)

According to recent data, the number of homes for sale has hit a four-year high, rising 12.1% year-over-year. Even more notable, over half (54.5%) of active listings have been on the market for at least 60 days without going under contract.

Many of these “stale” listings are sitting on the market because they were simply overpriced, which is a golden opportunity for buyers who get out there as soon as the new year begins and start making offers.

Properties that aren’t perfectly priced or move-in ready linger almost always linger on the market. But the fact that many buyers took some time off for the holidays adds to why there are more homes on the market and they’re taking longer to sell. And a house often loses even more appeal to buyers as it racks up more and more “days on market”. So a lot of the houses that are sitting on the market will easily be ignored by other buyers.

Many buyers will wait for new listings to come on the market in spring, or pounce on any new listings that come on before then if they’re priced right and/or in great condition. But they’ll just end up facing stiff competition from other buyers for those listings.

This makes the next month or two prime time to scoop up a house with less competition and possibly for a better price.

Instead of competing with a crowd, savvy buyers can take advantage of the quieter winter months to go after the homes that others are ignoring. It’s also the perfect time to consider homes that have been sitting on the market because the sellers are often more willing to accept offers below asking price or agree to favorable terms.

Your January 2025 Home-Buying Game Plan

Here’s how to make the most of these market conditions:

1. Ask your agent to search for homes that have been on the market for 60+ days, or whatever they feel constitutes “stale” in your market area.
2. Also ask if they can look for any properties that may be off-market currently, due to the holidays. Some sellers pull their listings in winter, intending to relist in spring. Have your agent reach out to the listing agents of home sellers that may have taken their homes off the market to see if they are still open to offers.
3. Be patient and don’t get discouraged. Even if you aren’t able to get a house under contract in the first few weeks of the year, stay focused and continue to remain active in the market. This will help you compete against other buyers who enter the market in the months to come.

The Takeaway:

When the holiday season rolls around, many buyers often put off looking for a home until after the new year. However, they often end up pushing that start date off until the spring market begins.

But you may want to start your search in January or February in order to avoid the competition that will surely increase in the spring market, as well as take advantage of the fact that there are currently more homes sitting on the market unsold than there have been in the past four years!

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When you buy a new construction home, many buyers assume that you must buy directly from the builder.

But having your own buyer’s agent can be a huge asset in any home purchase, including new construction.

A recent article from realtor.com outlined why you should consider working with a buyer’s agent when buying a new construction home, including:

• Working with a buyer’s agent can expose you to more options. When you work with a builder’s agent, they’re only going to show you homes within their builder’s portfolio. But if you’re not totally sold on a specific home or development, working with a buyer’s agent can help ensure that you’re considering other houses and neighborhoods that you might overlook if you’re only focused on one builder’s inventory.
• Agents can walk you through the process. Buying a new construction home can be a complex (and sometimes frustrating!) process. When you work with a buyer’s agent—and, more specifically, a buyer’s agent that has experience working with new construction—they can help walk you through each step of the process, making the home purchase smoother and easier to navigate.
• Agents can manage communication. When you’re buying a home, there’s a lot to be discussed. Rather than trying to manage communications yourself, when you work with a buyer’s agent, they can take the lead on communicating with the builder and coordinating all of the details, which can save you a significant amount of time, energy, and frustration.

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-Gift Wrapping Supplies: Make sure you have enough wrapping paper, ribbons, and tape. Consider adding some decorative tags and bows for a special touch.

-Grocery Shopping: Double-check your menu and ensure you have all the ingredients needed for your festive meals. Don’t forget snacks and beverages for guests!

-Decorations: Give your home a final festive flourish with additional ornaments, lights, and perhaps a fresh wreath for the door.

-Guest Room Ready: If you’re hosting guests, ensure the guest room is tidy, with fresh linens and toiletries.

-Music Playlist: Curate a holiday playlist that includes everyone’s favorite Christmas tunes to keep the atmosphere merry.

-Baking: Prepare any last-minute cookie doughs or desserts that can be baked fresh on the day.

-Games and Activities: Plan a few fun games or activities to keep everyone entertained, especially the little ones.

-Emergency Kit: Have a small kit ready with essentials like batteries, a flashlight, and basic first aid supplies just in case.

-Relax and Enjoy: Finally, take a moment for yourself. Sip some hot cocoa or tea, listen to your favorite carol, and remember that the spirit of Christmas is about joy and togetherness.

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Here are some cheerful ideas to get those jingle bells🔔 ringing:

Pick a Theme:
Decide on a color vibe or theme to keep things looking fabulous! Whether you’re going classic with red and green, fancy with silver and gold, or embracing the cozy woods, a theme will make your decorations pop like confetti!

Green Up Your Space:
Bring the outdoors in with garlands, wreaths, and fresh pine branches.🎄 Toss on some twinkling lights or shiny ribbons, and you’ve got a nature-inspired joy explosion!

Welcome with Style:
Make your entryway sing with holiday cheer! A gorgeous wreath, a cheerful doormat, and a few potted evergreens will roll out the red carpet for your guests!

Light It Up:

String lights are not just for the tree—let them dance around your banisters, highlight your architecture, or drape over mantels for that warm, cozy glow that says, “Welcome home!”
Ornament Personalization:

Deck out your tree with ornaments that tell your family’s story. Whether it’s handmade treasures, travel keepsakes, or photo frames, let those baubles shine with personality!
Festive Table Setting:

Glam up your dining table with a holiday tablecloth, fancy dishes, and a centerpiece that screams cozy vibes—think candles and greenery. Add place cards or little gifts for a sprinkle of extra magic!

Scent-sational Atmosphere:
Fill your home with the scents of the season! Light up some scented candles, whip up potpourri, or let a pot of cinnamon and cloves simmer to create that warm, fuzzy feeling.

Family Fun Time:
Turn decorating into a family fiesta! Get everyone involved in crafting homemade decorations or baking delicious treats—these moments turn into cherished memories faster than you can say “holiday cheer!”
With these tips in your festive toolkit, your home will radiate the joy and magic of the season. Happy decorating, and let the holiday fun begin!

Thanks for visiting my Blog today, Lynn Nichols, Realtor

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