Selling a House in Summer: Better than Spring?

You may or may not have heard that the so-called “Spring Market” is the best time to sell. Starting as early as January, Realtors start to contact home owners to sell them on the idea of selling their homes as soon as possible. For Sale signs pop up well in advance of the first flowers of spring. By March, there is always a great selection of homes to buy. So, should you add yours to the inventory? If you can’t get your house ready to sell until June or July, is it too late?

In fact, the best time to sell your house is very personal, because you’re not simply making an investment transaction. Your home is special and there are special considerations. The timing of your move will have many influences.

If you own a home and will be buying a new one, will it be a larger or a smaller home? Will it be an inter-generational home? Will you be moving into the same market, or out of town? Will children have to change schools? Are you moving because of a change in your employment or health? People have to move all the time for all kinds of reasons.

If you’re selling and not planning to buy another home, say you’re moving in with one of your children or into a retirement home, the timing of the sale of your house will have different influences.

The excitement of the spring market might not appeal to you. The greater number of homes on the market can mean tougher competition, fast decisions, and higher prices. And, higher selling prices mean higher buying prices, too.

A slower pace in the summer can be beneficial. You can wait for the right buyer to come along with the price you want. If the prices drop after spring, a slightly lower selling price can mean a lower buying price, and a lower mortgage.

Your house might look spectacular in the fall when the maple trees in your neighbourhood are in full colour. Or maybe it’s at its best in the winter, with a fire in the fireplace and a wreath on the door. Your not-so-perfect yard looks perfectly fine covered in snow. Maybe you can wait.

If you’re thinking about selling, talk to Harry, Your Friendly Realtor. Before you’re ready, before you start staging, have a patient and knowledgeable professional come over to look it over and to help you think it over. Each situation is unique. A good Realtor will understand and help, not judge or pressure you. Your home is important and your individual needs are important. Harry will make sure you understand what you're getting into and will make the whole process as stress-free as possible.

Summer Home Maintenance

Summer is the best time to do a lot of work in and around the house.


You'll obviously be doing gardening and landscape maintenance, and there are a number of things you'll want to do while windows and doors can be left open and there are things you'll need to do that are specific to this season. Plan your projects. Because our summer days and weekends are busy with fun things, you might want to save some for the fall, when we often have surprisingly warm days.

Painting, work on windows and doors, driveways and walkways,  roof repairs, and carpet cleaning are all things that are best done while the weather is good.

Keep your investment in top shape during the summer. Here's a checklist to inspire you:

  

Summer  Home Maintenance

Taking Care of Your Investment

(adapted from CMHC by Harry Naghavi, Your Friendly Realtor)

• Use a dehumidifier to maintain relative humidity below 60 per cent in basement.
• Clean or replace air-conditioning filter, and clean or replace ventilation system filters if necessary.
• Inspect basement pipes for condensation or dripping and, if necessary, take corrective action; for example, reduce humidity and/or insulate cold water pipes.
• Check the basement floor drain to ensure the trap contains water; refill with water if necessary.
• If you have a plumbing fixture that is not used frequently, for example, a laundry tub or spare bathroom sink, tub or shower stall, run some water briefly to keep water in the trap.
• Deep clean carpets and rugs.
• Disconnect the duct connected to your clothes dryer, and vacuum lint from duct, the areas surrounding your dryer and your dryer’s vent hood outside.
• Check smooth functioning of all windows, and lubricate as required.
• Inspect window putty on outside of glass panes of older houses, and replace if needed.
• Sand and touch up paint on windows and doors.
• Lubricate door hinges, and tighten screws as needed.
• Check for and replace damaged caulking and weatherstripping around mechanical and electrical services, windows and doorways, including the doorway between the garage and the house. 
• Lubricate garage door hardware, and ensure it is operating properly.
• Lubricate automatic garage door opener motor, chain and other moving parts, and ensure that the auto-reverse mechanism is properly adjusted.
• Repair any damaged steps
• Check all guardrails and handrails.
• Repair driveway and walkways as needed.
• Check exterior wood siding and trim for signs of deterioration; clean, replace or refinish as needed.
• Remove any plants that contact — and roots that penetrate — the siding or brick.
• From the ground, check the general condition of the roof and note any sagging that could indicate structural problems requiring further investigation from inside the attic. Note the condition of shingles for possible repair or replacement, and examine roof flashings, such as at chimney and roof joints, for any signs of cracking or leakage.
• Check the chimney cap and the caulking between the cap and the chimney.

Harry Naghavi, Your Friendly Realtor, is one of the best Realtors in Newmarket, in York Region, and in the GTA. Check out his website www.harrynaghavi.com to find this list and other important information about buying and selling homes, and try out the interactive property search feature!

TGIF! Time to get away from it all -right here in Newmarket

Another Friday, and the 400 is a parking lot. Tons of people are all heading north from Toronto to get away from it all. Heading to a lake, to the woods, to a cottage, a cabin, a trailer, a tent, they just want to have some space and fresh air away from the city.

Another bunch of people are at home in Newmarket, enjoying a big backyard, maybe a pool, maybe a walk in the park. They're going to the lake tomorrow, fishing, or to the beach for a couple of hours after going to the Saturday Farmer's Market in the morning. Lake Simcoe is just up the street. And, maybe tomorrow night, they'll go to a game in Toronto, or meet with some friends. It's not that far.

A weekend at home can be as good as a holiday.

Thinking about getting away from it all in Newmarket?

Give me a call. I'll help you find a home that gives you a weekend getaway every weekend, without the traffic. 

Wish you had a pool? I can help!

It's another beautiful hot summer day.

Wouldn't it be nice to have a pool in your backyard? 

I can help you find a home with a pool, or recommend an excellent pool company.

Give me a call.

Summertime and the beach is easy

It's still summer, and it's a beautiful hot day. If you lived in Newmarket, you could be at a beach in half an hour- how does a picnic supper at the beach on a work night sound? 

Newmarket has all the urban amenities you need and access to all the rural escapes you want. 

And, it's still affordable.

Give me a call and we'll find you the perfect home.