Top Tips to Keep Your 2018 New Year’s Home Resolution

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As I start the new year and tidy up the home after the holidays, I find myself making mental lists of resolutions and 2018 goals to tackle, all ultimately sprinkled with visions of great accomplishment and fists raised in sweet victory.

I have health goals, financial goals, and I also have home goals. I know it’s not enough just to make a goal, but I know that I have to do the hard work to keep it and that’s where it can get tricky.

If you are a potential buyer in search for your dream home, or a seller looking to get your property on the market and sold, that big life moment should be at the top of your resolution list for 2018. The market is tight, so for buyers, in particular, anything you can do to get a leg up now will set you apart from the competition later.

Here are some tips that will put you on a clear course for your New Year’s home resolution success.

Get started on your buying resolutions

Get your financial house in order. Whether searching for a starter home or a new nest for your family, it’s important to be clear on your financial health. Take time now to look at your budget, how much you can reasonably use for a down payment, and set parameters and goals for search – and stick to them. Talk to a lender now about interest rates, loan options for which you qualify and get pre-approved. Pre-approval will give you a sense of what you can afford, and is a recommendation among many real estate professionals.

Start sooner rather than later. The home buying season is starting earlier and earlier and there’s a shortage of for-sale homes in many markets. With kids in school and winter weather, there’s less competition in the market right now than there might be in a few months. Although it’s no fun to tromp through snow and ice in cold weather states to visit an open house, it would be smart to consider a winter home purchase in order to get out ahead of the spring rush and beat out other buyers.

Start online. Today, 95 percent of home searches begin online. Well beyond a listing of price and photos, home shoppers can learn a lot about the neighborhood they are interested in and search by schools, learn about local amenities, and even calculate a commute. Read reviews on local restaurants and coffee shops and find the nearest grocery store on the realtor.com® search page.

And, be sure to set a price alert, so that when homes hit in your price range, you’ll be one of the first to know and ready to react quickly. For some additional tips, check out these five tips on how to get an edge on your sale

Prepare for a successful 2018 sale

Make sure the price is right. Your home value shouldn’t be a guessing game. Take a few easy steps to get a good ballpark idea of what your home will garner and how it compares to other for-sale homes in your area. The best option is to speak with a real estate professional; they are the experts when it comes to determining your home’s value. You can also claim your home on realtor.com®’s My Home portal to get an estimate on your home value, as well as check out local open houses to get an idea of what similar homes in your area are going for.

Take advantage of peak selling season. The spring and summer months are when you will attract the most potential buyers. According to the realtor.com® 2018 housing forecast, the market share of millennials, most of which are first-time home buyers, is anticipated to increase from 40 to 43 percent this year. So, if you have a starter home to sell, expect demand to be up significantly. Do as many showings and get as many people through your front door in order to maximize and take greatest advantage of the competitive market conditions.

Check out these helpful tips and tricks on how to sell your home early in the year.

Make a good first impression. Buying a home is emotional and you want to make sure your house pulls at the heartstrings the minute a potential buyer lays eyes on it – both online and in person. Invest in a professional photographer or enlist a photo-savvy friend who can show off your home in the best light possible. Fix any broken window screens, missing shingles, and defunct doorbells now. Give your rooms an extra boost with a fresh coat of paint. Seemingly minor repairs like these won’t break the bank, but a little TLC will make a difference.

Don’t go into this resolution alone. A real estate professional will help you navigate the process every step of the way. How you select a real estate professional may be different depending on what services you might need. If you have worked with a real estate professional in the past and it worked well for you, you’re set.

For those of you who haven’t, get recommendations from friends and family and make sure to check out realtor.com®’s agent profiles and ratings and reviews. Once you’ve got a list of potential agents, interview them to confirm a strong personal connection as well as whether their experience syncs with your needs.

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