Tag Archives: selling your home

Getting Over a Real Estate Loss

26 Tuesday May 2026

Posted by in real estate, 55+ Communities, Buying a Home, Downsizing, Empty Nesters, Selling a Home

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Real estate is one of the biggest financial and emotional investments most people make. So when something goes wrong — your home sits on the market without an offer, or you lose a bidding war on the house you were certain was “the one” — it stings. A lot.

But a real estate setback is not the end of the road. Here’s how to regroup, refocus, and move forward.

First, Give Yourself a Moment

It’s okay to be disappointed. Whether you’re a seller watching your listing expire or a buyer who just lost out on your dream home, the emotions are real. Acknowledge them. Then decide you’re not going to stay there.

Most successful buyers and sellers have a story about a deal that fell apart. It’s more common than you think — and it rarely means you did anything wrong.

For Sellers: Figure Out What the Market Was Telling You

If your home didn’t sell, the market gave you information. The two most common reasons a listing struggles are price and presentation. Before you relist, take an honest look at both.

  • Was your price in line with recent comparable sales in Jacksonville, or were you chasing a number that felt right but wasn’t supported by the data?
  • Did your home show as well as it could? Professional photos, decluttering, and minor updates can make a significant difference in buyer perception.
  • Was the timing off? Jacksonville’s market has seasonal rhythms. Sometimes waiting a few weeks makes a meaningful difference in buyer activity.

Use the time off market to reset. Come back stronger.

For Buyers: The Right House Is Still Out There

Losing a bidding war is genuinely discouraging, especially after you’ve done the inspections, fallen in love with the kitchen, and mentally placed your furniture. But here’s what experience tells us: buyers who lose one house almost always find a better fit shortly after.

A few things to consider:

  • Revisit your must-haves vs. nice-to-haves. Sometimes a loss opens your eyes to flexibility you didn’t know you had.
  • Get your financing as strong as possible. In a competitive market, a fully underwritten pre-approval can be the difference between winning and losing.
  • Stay ready. The right house will come on the market. When it does, you want to be positioned to move quickly and confidently.

The Bigger Picture

Real estate is a long game. The home that didn’t sell this spring can sell in the fall. The house you lost in March can be replaced by something even better in May. Jacksonville’s market moves, and opportunities keep coming.

What separates buyers and sellers who ultimately succeed is simply this: they don’t let one setback become a reason to give up on their goals.

We’ve helped a lot of clients work through exactly this kind of disappointment — and we’ve seen firsthand how the story almost always has a good ending when you stay the course.

Ready to regroup and try again? We’re here to help.

Kevin and Jennifer Hanley, REALTORS® The Hanley Home Team | KW Atlantic Partners Southside Call: (904) 515-2479 | HanleyHomeTeam.com

The Story of Your Home – Happily Every After

16 Monday Feb 2026

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Marketing a home is not like marketing a commodity, such as bottled water. While everyone needs shelter, it would be a serious oversimplification to say that’s all a home offers. In reality, buyers in Jacksonville seek more than four walls and a roof; they want a property that aligns with their lifestyle, whether that means proximity to beaches and boating, family-friendly neighborhoods with great schools, or low-maintenance living near golf courses and parks.

Many agents take the perspective that a home is the right home for a buyer simply because they happen to be selling it. The truth is it can be a real waste of time and effort convincing people that a home’s qualities are exactly what they’re looking for. It’s far more efficient to market the home’s qualities to the segment of buyers who have a natural lifestyle fit for the home. For example, highlighting a home’s outdoor entertaining space and river views appeals directly to coastal lifestyle enthusiasts in Jacksonville, rather than trying to sell it to someone prioritizing urban convenience downtown.

Profiling and segmenting buyer lifestyle is an excellent way to optimize the budget for marketing a home. Rather than taking a shotgun approach with broad ads that reach everyone, we tailor the home’s story as much as possible to the types of buyers who best represent the projected buyer for a specific listing. This targeted strategy saves money, attracts more serious inquiries, and often leads to faster sales in competitive Florida markets.

Analyzing the specific qualities of the home is a natural first place to start. Is it close to an organic farmers’ market or vibrant local spots like Riverside’s Saturday Market? Next to a country club with a legendary golf course such as Timuquana or Deerwood? Does it have a garage fit for two luxury vehicles, or is it a compact, eco-friendly setup perfect for a one-Prius household? Has it got natural family sprawl with multiple bedrooms and a backyard for kids, or bachelor appeal with sleek modern finishes and low-maintenance design?

We also like to talk with the sellers about what originally drew them to the home. What caught their eye when they first viewed it? Why was it the right place at the right time in their life? What is encouraging them to move on now, whether it’s downsizing, a job relocation, or seeking a different lifestyle? These insights often reveal emotional hooks that resonate deeply with similar buyers.

All of this adds up to the story of a listing. This story can then inform the marketing plan for the property, staging decisions, open houses, and even the way photos and videos are shot and presented online. We emphasize features like seamless indoor-outdoor flow for Florida’s year-round weather, energy-efficient upgrades for lower bills in our humid climate, or smart home tech that appeals to tech-savvy professionals.

We’re no longer looking for a convenient cave for shelter from the elements. We live in homes. Our homes should reflect our lifestyle. Keeping this in mind throughout the entire listing and marketing process is what makes us good at matching properties to buyers for our clients each and every week.

Let’s get started selling your home’s lifestyle today! Contact us for a no-obligation meeting: Kevin and Jennifer Hanley, REALTORS The Hanley Home Team of Keller Williams Realty Southside 904-515-2479 www.HanleyHomeTeam.com

Are You Waiting Too Long to Buy a Home? (price)

15 Monday Dec 2025

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If you know someone who’s waiting for home prices to drop even further before they buy, you might want to clue them in to the impact financing changes may have on those low prices. In Jacksonville’s current market—where median home values hover around $280,000–$300,000 and have seen modest declines or stabilization in early 2026—waiting carries real risks beyond just price.

Which do you think matters more when waiting for the right time to buy a home: securing a low purchase price, or locking in a great financing rate? Most buyers focus heavily on purchase price when deciding whether or not to buy. The question you often hear is the same: “Has the market bottomed out yet?” The idea of getting “the best deal” on a home is paramount to these price shoppers, and indeed for cash buyers, this may be the primary concern.

While negotiating a great price is an important part of the equation, the value of securing great financing terms cannot be overstated. The inherent risk in waiting for the market to hit bottom is that you’ll also miss out on the best interest rates available. As of mid-March 2026, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate sits around 6.2%–6.3% (per Freddie Mac and other sources), up slightly in recent weeks but still below last year’s peaks. If rates rise further while prices dip modestly, the monthly payment—and total cost over time—could end up higher than buying sooner at a slightly elevated price with lower rates.

Imagine, for example, you’re waiting for homes to drop an additional 5% in value. While you’re waiting, mortgage rates rise from 6% to 7%. Sure, you might secure the home at a better purchase price, but what you’ll pay over the life of the loan will be significantly higher than buying when the market was more expensive (but rates were lower). Even a 1% increase in your mortgage rate can add hundreds to your monthly payment—often equivalent to a 10% or more jump in effective housing costs. For a $300,000 loan (common in Jacksonville starter/mid-tier homes), a shift from 6% to 7% might increase monthly principal and interest from around $1,800 to $2,000+, adding $200+ per month and tens of thousands in extra interest over 30 years.

Buying a home is not like buying a nice coffee table. Price is not the sole concern. Given the complexities of price, property taxes, financing terms, and the larger tax implications of home ownership (like mortgage interest deductions), it truly pays to consult with an agent who can help you weigh the pros and cons and make the right move. In Jacksonville’s 2026 market—where forecasts show modest price stabilization or slight appreciation rather than big drops, plus ongoing population-driven demand—acting when rates and inventory align often beats perfect timing.

We’re always happy to work with you to navigate the market, negotiate price, and put you in touch with mortgage professionals who will help you get the best rate possible. Contact us today and we can help you explore your options: Kevin and Jennifer Hanley, REALTORS Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Partners www.HanleyHomeTeam.com – Kevin Hanley, Loan Officer, Texana Bank NMLS #2639641 https://mortgage.texanabank.com/loan-officer/kevin-hanley/

FAQ

Q: What is waiting? A: If you know someone who’s waiting for home prices to drop even further before they buy, you might want to clue them in to the impact financing changes may have on those low prices. Waiting for a “better” price often means missing lower rates, which can outweigh modest savings on the home’s cost—especially in a market like Jacksonville where prices are stabilizing rather than crashing.

7 Reasons to Work With a Realtor® – Complete Guide

13 Monday Oct 2025

Posted by in #HomeBuyer, #HomeBuyingTips, #HomeOwner, #HomeSeller, #housegoals, #househunting, #Jacksonville, #JacksonvilleFL, #KellerWilliams, #RealEstate, #Refinance, #sellingyourhome

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architect composition data demonstration

REALTORS® aren’t just agents. They’re professional members of the National Association of REALTORS® and subscribe to its strict code of ethics. This is the REALTOR® difference for home buyers:

Ethical treatment.

Every REALTOR® must adhere to a strict code of ethics, which is based on professionalism and protection of the public. As a REALTOR®’s client, you can expect honest and ethical treatment in all transaction-related matters. The first obligation is to you, the client.

An expert guide.

Buying a home usually requires dozens of forms, reports, disclosures, and other technical documents. A knowledgeable expert will help you prepare the best deal, and avoid delays or costly mistakes. Also, there’s a lot of jargon involved, so you want to work with a professional who can speak the language.

Objective information and opinions.

REALTORS® can provide local information on utilities, zoning, schools, and more. They also have objective information about each property. REALTORs® can use that data to help you determine if the property has what you need. By understanding both your needs and search area, they can also point out neighborhoods you don’t know much about but that might suit your needs better than you’d thought.

Expanded search power.

Sometimes properties are available but not actively advertised. A REALTOR® can help you find opportunities not listed on home search sites and can help you avoid out-of-date listings that might be showing up as available online but are no longer on the market.

Negotiation knowledge.

There are many factors up for discussion in a deal. A REALTOR® will look at every angle from your perspective, including crafting a purchase agreement that allows enough time for you to complete inspections and investigations of the property before you are bound to complete the purchase.

Up-to-date experience.

Most people buy only a few homes in their lifetime, usually with quite a few years in between each purchase. Even if you’ve done it before, laws and regulations change. REALTORS® handle hundreds of transactions over the course of their career.

Your rock during emotional moments.

A home is so much more than four walls and a roof. And for most people, property represents the biggest purchase they’ll ever make. Having a concerned, but objective, third party helps you stay focused on the issues most important to you.

The Hanley Home Team has a team of REALTORS to help you! Have any questions? Give us a call today!  Kevin and Jennifer Hanley, REALTORS The Hanley Home Team of Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Partners Southside 904-515-2479 http://www.HanleyHomeTeam.com

Do Open Houses work…Or are they a waste of time?

08 Monday Sep 2025

Posted by in #HanleyHomeTeam, #HomeOwner, #HomeSeller, #Jacksonville, #JacksonvilleFL, #KellerWilliams, #RealEstate, #sellingyourhome, Jacksonville, real estate

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When you hire a real estate agent to sell your home, one of the first things they’ll suggest is hosting an open house so that potential buyers can casually check out your property on a weekend afternoon. But while open houses are promoted by agents as a great way of finding a buyer, a US study by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) found that the success rate of open houses is a mere 2% to 4%. Similar studies in other countries have mirrored these results.

That means out of 100 open houses, only 2 to 4 homes are purchased by buyers who came through the open house. Of course, the vast majority of open houses are not conducted well, and many are unnecessary. Out of 100 open houses, perhaps only 20 are done correctly.

They’re held at the wrong times, wrong days of the week, or wrong times of the year. They are not marketed effectively, the homes are not prepared, and the agents are unskilled at communicating value to potential buyers. Eliminating the 80 useless open houses would make the purchase percentages look more like 10% to 20% of homes being sold on open house. In other words, the chances of selling your house based on an open house are higher if the open house is done well, according to best practices.

Consumer sentiment about open houses has waxed and waned over the years, along with the ups and downs of the real estate market. In 1995, 41% of sellers tried open houses to sell their homes, according to data from NAR. By 2000, it had dropped to 28%. Beginning in 2003, however, as the market started to heat up again, that number began rising. By 2014, 51% of all sellers were using open houses, though not all agreed they were effective.

Some 45% of sellers have recently found open houses only “somewhat useful” and another 12% didn’t consider them useful at all, according to the NAR. This is survey data, so there is no evaluation of what those sellers meant by “useful” and “somewhat useful.”

So with all the sketchy data, why do real estate agents still promote open houses as a listing and selling tool? Let’s look at a few arguments for and against open houses, and explore the pros and cons.

Reasons not to hold an Open House

There are many people—agents and consumers—who argue against open houses. Some sellers just don’t like the idea of random people and neighborhood “lookie-loos” traipsing through their house. Some are concerned about theft.

Some agents are concerned about their own safety when holding an open house, especially in out-of-the-way locations. Some agents consider it a waste of their time, based on the low potential results…they’d rather be managing other aspects of their business (or golfing) during that time.

One of the main arguments used by sellers and the general public against open houses is that agents only use them to find buyers that they’ll take away to other houses.

But this is not necessarily a bad thing. Real estate is a community product and selling it is a community event. Buyers may meet an agent at your open house, then go buy another house…but another buyer somewhere is meeting another agent at another open house, and that agent is bringing the buyer to your house.

Open houses bring buyers out. By having an open house, you’re contributing to the overall health of the industry. As many as 45% of buyers use open houses to research the market. Many go to open houses, then discover they like the neighborhood and look for other homes in that area with their agent. Your house might be one of their “test” houses, or it may be one that they decide to buy because of another person’s open house in your neighborhood. It’s a network.

Reasons to Hold an open house

In addition to being part of a network of buyers and home sellers, consider these five additional reasons to hold an open house:

Get “shoppers” out of the way

A lot of buyers will want to see your house as soon as it’s listed. You can quickly become overwhelmed by the repeated appointment requests. Showing your home is disruptive and quickly becomes annoying. Having to keep the place clean and be ready to vacate on the spur of the moment may seem fine for the first two days or so, but you’ll quickly lose patience.

A better approach would be to take a day trip away from your home on the first weekend of your listing and let your agent hold an open house.

Your agent can get a ton of those early “shoppers” through your house at one time, rather than bothering you with appointment after appointment. Most of those buyers (99.9%) will eliminate your house as an option during the open house. Some will want to view it again. And some very small percentage may want to make an offer. But the biggest reason to hold the initial open house is to get the lookie-loos and initial round of buyers out of the way. They’re just shopping, not buying.

You may want to ask your agent to hold the house open on both Saturday and Sunday of that first weekend. By doing a “new listing” open house, you won’t eliminate all appointments (some people can’t come during the open house time), but a large percentage will come during the open, and that means those people won’t be bothering you during the week to set appointments.

Create an “auction effect”

There is a principle in psychology called scarcity – it’s the desire that’s in all of us to want to get something valuable before someone else does. For instance, have you ever heard of a situation where more than one person was interested in a house? In those situations, there was a bidding war, where several buyers competed for the same house. In most cases like this, the house sold for more than the owners were asking – and the buyers felt great about it because they won. Someone else wanted the house, but they got it first!

Situations like this are called the auction effect. Your agent can orchestrate a sense of scarcity using an open house as the centerpiece of a plan to generate a lot of interest very quickly. Again, this is best done at the start of the listing period, or at a significant price reduction if the house hasn’t sold yet.

Raise the profile of a community

While open houses may be declining in many parts of the country, some neighborhoods are finding them effective ways to raise the profile of an entire community, if a number of open houses are all done at the same time.

Recently, four neighborhoods in the Lemon Grove area of San Diego teamed up for a joint open house with 25 of the area’s homes open for viewing on a single day. The result was that the entire area saw a spike in sales of 20%.

Get valuable feedback

A new listing open house is a great time to get feedback on the property. Information is valuable. Your agent should be asking things like, “How does this house compare to others you’ve been seeing?” “What do you like about the home?” “What would prevent you from making an offer?” Your agent can use different techniques to gather feedback, such as surveys, direct conversation, feedback forms, etc.

It’s very important that you then take that information to heart. If you keep hearing the same messages over and over again, then those things are real. Those are the very things that may prevent your home from selling for as much as you’d like, or as quickly as you like. It doesn’t hurt to listen and then have an open-minded discussion with your agent about how to remedy those issues.

Contrary to popular opinion, most agents are not trying to keep your house price artificially low in order to move it out of inventory and get paid faster. Most agents will just tell you the truth, and back it up with evidence, including comments by buyers.

Showcase a unique property

In some cases, a house is just too unique to market without an open house. Art professor Mercedes Teixido and her husband had three open houses in six weeks showcasing their Pasadena, California home. Their house, they say, was the kind you had to see to believe. “It had a unique sensibility,” Teixido said, with spacious rooms and a large amount of built-in furniture that was crafted by hand. Sometimes you have to get people into a house in order to get them to fall in love with it. Many houses in less desirable locations have sold because someone went inside on an open house and fell in love with it.

Final Word

When you hire us to represent you in the sale of your home, we’ll discuss the pros and the cons to having open houses as part of your marketing plan.

We’ll let you know what’s happening in the market—whether open houses are effective right now or not—and whether your house would benefit from open houses, given its style, price, and location.

Please call to set a listing appointment, if possible at least 2 months before your planned move. Kevin and Jennifer Hanley, REALTORS 904-515-2479 The Hanley Home Team of Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Partners Southside www.HanleyHomeTeam.com

Boost Your Home’s Value Ahead of Your Appraisal – Complete Guide

11 Monday Aug 2025

Posted by in #DIY, #HanleyHomeTeam, #HomeBuyer, #HomeOwner, #HomeSeller, #Jacksonville, #JacksonvilleFL, #Movingday, #RealEstate, #sellingyourhome, real estate, TIPS, HACKS, Uncategorized

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Painting TrimWhether you’re planning to sell or refinance, a home appraisal is a necessary step in determining the true value of your home. This means your home should be in the best possible condition, so it will be appraised at the highest potential value. While it may be tempting to swing for the fences with big-ticket renovations, there are smaller things you can do to efficiently raise the market value of your home.

Start Small with a Little Spackle
If you’ve lived in your home for any length of time, you’ve probably hung things on the walls, put up shelves, or simply had accidents that resulted in minor damage. Now is the time to repair those blemishes. Filling these holes and crevices with a little spackle and painting over the area will leave your walls looking like new. While this may not boost the value of your home, it will keep the appraiser from deducting for the damage.

As Long as You’re Painting…
After you’ve touched up your walls, you might want to consider freshening up the paint. Repainting worn trim and moldings around the home can give it a fresh look. Venture outside and touch up the trim around the windows and doors too. This will boost curb appeal and help you add value to the home. Any area where the paint is peeling, chipping, or simply has lost its luster should be retouched with a fresh coat.

Update Your Crawl Spaces
An upgrade that’s growing in popularity (and will grow your home value) is crawl space encapsulation. Crawl spaces are essential for providing homeowners and contractors with access to important systems of the home. However, these spaces are vulnerable to moisture and water damage caused by humidity and harsh weather conditions. In drier climates, dust and insects can interfere with HVAC systems. To protect crawl spaces, homeowners have started sealing these spaces with polyethylene barriers to keep out moisture, dust, and pests.

Do a Deep Clean
This is also the time to really clean your home from top to bottom. If you have young children and pets, there may be odors and damage that might not be noticeable to you, but strong odors and scuffed hardwood floors will be the first things your appraiser notices. Consider hiring professionals to wax the floors, shampoo the carpets, and conduct an intensive cleaning of the entire home.

Conduct Other Repairs
At some point, you should tour your home with the mindset of a home buyer. This will help you identify problems that you live with every day but just don’t notice anymore. Look for things that need to be repaired, such as a loose handrail, a leaky faucet, or a shorted electrical outlet. Repairing these problems ahead of time will ensure you won’t lose money on the appraisal.

By taking the time to spruce up the home ahead of the appraisal, you may be able to increase the value by thousands of dollars. The suggestions offered here should give you a head start, but if you have additional questions on how to add more value to your home, please don’t hesitate to reach out us – Kevin and Jennifer Hanley, REALTORS, The Hanley Home Team of Keller Williams Realty http://www.HanleyHomeTeam.com 904-515-2479

Just Sold Your Home? Make Sure to Do These Things

14 Monday Apr 2025

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You just sold your house. Congratulations! But while you’ve knocked the biggest task off of your moving to-do list, there are still things you’ll need to take care of as you transition out of your current home and into a new living situation.

So what, exactly, are those things?

A recent article from realtor.com outlined key things sellers will definitely want to consider doing following the sale of their home, including:

  • Organize and file all of your paperwork. After you sell your home, you may be tempted to toss your paperwork into a drawer and forget about it—but when tax day rolls around, you’ll need copies of any paperwork associated with the closing and settlement. Make sure to organize and file all of your paperwork in a safe place; that way, when April 15 hits, you’ll have everything you need for your taxes ready to go.
  • Send change-of-address notices. Once you sell your home and move out, you want to make sure your mail follows you to your new address—so make sure to fill out your change of address form ASAP. (In fact, the US Postal Service recommends completing your change of address request 30 days before you move out.)
  • Think about what you need from a buying agent. Sometimes, the agent that helped you sell your house is the perfect person to help you find a new home—but not always. Before you commit, think about what you need from a buyer’s agent—and whether your selling agent fits that criteria. (For example, if you’re moving to a new city, you’ll probably want to work with an agent that’s familiar with the area.) If you do opt for an agent other than the one who helped you sell your home, ask him or her for a referral to an agent they trust to help you with your purchase.

Want more tips? Get in touch! Kevin and Jennifer Hanley, REALTORS The Hanley Home Team of Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Partners Southside 904-515-2479 HanleyHomeTeam.com

Two of the Best Days of the Year to Sell Your House Are in the Last Week of May

21 Tuesday May 2024

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Most home sellers want to sell their house for as much money as possible. So, if you’ve been thinking about selling your house, you’d probably love it if you (or your agent) could predict the perfect day to sell your house in order to do that. 

Well, you’re in luck!

ATTOM Data Solutions has analyzed more than 59 million single-family home and condo sales that occurred between 2011 to 2023, and have found that two of the best days of the year to sell a house are in the month of May.

According to their data, the sixth best day of the year to sell a house is on May 25th, netting sellers a 15.1 percent premium. And the absolute best day of the year is two days later, on May 27th, with a 16.2 percent premium. 

Couple those statistics with the currently low number of houses for sale in many areas, and that may make this the perfect time to sell your house.

When Should You List in Order to Sell on One of Those Days?

Perfectly timing the real estate market in an overall sense is almost impossible, but even with these statistical insights, it’s pretty difficult to pinpoint the exact day you should actually list your house for sale. Does it make sense to hit the market exactly on the 25th or 27th? A week before? Two weeks ahead of those dates?

The answers to those questions are really better answered by your local agent. The average amount of time it takes to get a house under contract varies from one area to another, and even from one price range to another in any given area. So you’d need to drill down into how long it’s taking between the day a house in your price range gets listed, to the day they typically accept an offer in order to back into an appropriate day to list your property for sale.

But generally speaking, in most areas and markets, if you price your house appropriately, houses are still selling readily — so it’s possible to list your house and get it under contract in a week or two.

That said, it can take some time to get your house ready to be listed for sale. There’s a lot to do between deciding to list your house and actually having it on the market, such as:

  • You’ll need time to prep your house. At the least you should give it a good cleaning. But you may also need to do some repairs or touch-ups. If you have a lot of belongings, some decluttering may also be in order.
  • It may make sense to have your house professionally staged, in order for it to show as well as possible. It can take time for a professional stager or real estate agent to properly stage a home.
  • Professional photography will need to be taken inside and outside of the house, and then edited. 
  • Once all of that is done, your agent will need to create all of the marketing they employ to build maximum interest the minute the listing hits the market.

So, while you have some time to play with, if you’re trying to capitalize on the two best days to sell, you need to get the ball rolling immediately.

What if You Get an Offer Before One of Those Days?

No matter how much you dig into the local statistics and try to time the day you list perfectly, there’s a chance you’ll get an offer before May 25th or 27th. Should you hold off on accepting offers until those specific days? Honestly, no. 

Let’s say that, on average, it takes about 2 weeks to get a house in your price range under contract in your area, so you decide to list on May 11th. But rather than it taking two weeks, you get a great offer (or multiple offers) within the first few days of it being on the market. Trying to hold off on accepting one of them until the 25th or 27th, just to see if you get a better offer on one of those two dates, is probably going to produce the opposite results. Your initial buyers would likely lose patience and interest over that amount of time, and may even reduce or rescind their offer. 

To make matters worse, you’d probably end up realizing that they were the best buyers and offers you’ll see. It isn’t like those dates are magical and an unknown buyer will appear out of thin air with a better offer. 

As much as the current data is true, it also changes from year to year. Back in 2021, that same company said that the five best dates to sell on were May 16th, 19th, 20th, 23rd and 27th and the 23rd was the best day of the bunch.

The point is, those aren’t dates set in stone, so don’t put more stock in statistics than the actual offers you have to consider.

But, if you’ve been thinking about selling, statistically speaking, the next couple of weeks are as good a time as any to list your house for sale!

The Takeaway:

If you want to get top dollar when selling your house, data from the past 13 years indicates that May 25th and 27th are the best days to sell, and will net you premiums of 15.1% and 16.2% respectively.

However, perfectly timing when you list your house in order to sell on those days is tricky. Since local market conditions vary, you should consult with your agent for the best timing. And don’t get too focused on those specific dates… they’re not magical. The statistically best date to sell varies from year to year, although they are often in May. So, if you’re considering selling, the next few weeks are as good a time as any to list your house.

Let’s get your home on the market today! Kevin and Jennifer Hanley, REALTORs 904-515-2479 HanleyHomeTeam.com

MAJOR RECALL ISSUED ON THESE SIGNS!

23 Tuesday Jan 2024

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They’ve been proven ineffective!

Homeowners who try to sell their house “For Sale By Owner” (FSBO) most likely don’t go the DIY route just because they relish the idea of selling their own house. They do it to save money.

It’s understandable since real estate commissions can be perceived as “too high” by some consumers. And if you can net more money by selling your own house, why not give it a shot? 

Many who attempt sell on their own go into it with a few assumptions:

  • It’s going to be easy for them to sell their house.
  • They presume they’ll be able to sell it for as much as an agent would.
  • But, even if they don’t sell it for as much as it would if it were listed by an agent, they’ll still come out ahead by saving money on the commissions they’d pay.

The problem is, it’s virtually impossible to prove any of those things are true or not, until and unless you try to sell your own house. Most people don’t sell a house that often in life, so it’s really a live and learn situation, and only once the dust has settled can they truly say whether it was worth it. 

But what you can do if you’re considering selling your own house is learn from what other people have found after they sold their own house, and make a more informed decision before diving into it based upon hopes and assumptions. 

So let’s look at what some recent FSBO sellers had to say about their experience…

5 Major Regrets FSBOs Have

According to a recent survey of 1,000 people who sold a home in 2022 and 2023, many owners who tried to sell their own homes had some regrets about not hiring an agent. Here are 5 key takeaways to consider:

  • They made less than people who hired an agent to sell their house. On average, homeowners who hired an agent made $46,603 more profit than those who sold on their own.
  • In fact, many felt like they could have sold for more money if they used an agent. Even if they didn’t feel like they lost money, nearly half of them (48%) felt like their home would’ve sold for more if they used an agent.
  • It took them longer to sell their house than it would have if they hired an agent. This is particularly interesting, since 31% of them said they sold on their own because they wanted a quicker sale. Yet 53% of sellers who hired an agent accepted an offer within one month of listing, versus 39% of those who sold on their own. And FSBO sellers were nearly 2x as likely to not accept an offer for at least three months. Ultimately, 46% believe that their home would have sold faster if they hired an agent.
  • 36% made legal mistakes. Which is likely connected to the 40% who said they didn’t understand the contracts and paperwork involved, and the 43% who said buyers didn’t trust them because they didn’t have an agent.

It’s understandable that an owner might want to try and sell their own house in order to save money by not paying a commission. But what many who’ve tried to do so have found is that it actually costs them more to sell on their own, by selling their house for less than it would have with an agent, not to mention the added time, stress, and potential legal issues it can cause.

The Takeaway:

Homeowners who try to sell their own house “for sale by owner” (FSBO) often think it’ll be quick and easy, and save them a ton of money by not paying commissions. But a recent survey revealed that many owners who tried to sell their own house had regrets, including:

  • On average they made $46,603 less than those who hired an agent.
  • They were three times more likely to lose money.
  • It took them longer to sell their house.
  • 36% of them experienced legal issues.

Time and time again, The Hanley Home Team nets its customers more money than if their customers sold their home on their own…even after paying commission! Let’s sell your home quickly and for the most money in 2024! Kevin and Jennifer Hanley, REALTORs The Hanley Home Team of Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Partners Southside 904-515-2479 HanleyHomeTeam.com

Selling Your Home? Here’s What Your Real Estate Agent Wants You to Know

09 Tuesday Jan 2024

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When it comes to selling your home, there’s no one that can support the process more than your real estate agent. They have the knowledge and experience necessary to successfully sell your home, and to sell it at the highest price possible.

But as a homeowner, there may be things that you’re doing (or not doing) that could be making their job harder.

A recent article from realtor.com outlined things real estate agents wish their clients knew about the home selling process, including:

  • Your stuff may be nice to you, but not to everyone. You may think your home is decorated beautifully (and it may well be!), but all of those personal touches make the home feel like yours, which can make it harder for potential buyers to see the home as theirs. Listen to your real estate agent when they make suggestions on how to make your home more attractive to buyers — for example, by clearing clutter and removing personal touches like family photos.
  • Don’t hide things from your agent. Your agent is on your team, and if you want them to help you successfully sell your home, you can’t hide things from them. If there’s something going on with your house — like a leaky faucet, broken air conditioner, or termite infestation — tell them; they can advise you on what needs to be fixed before listing and what can slide, so you don’t have to worry about those issues coming back to haunt you later in the process.
  • Don’t overprice. Many sellers want to list their home at a high price, and then lower the price if the home doesn’t sell. But overpricing your home can keep a significant number of buyers away, and make it harder to sell your home. Work with your agent to come up with a listing price that’s both competitive and/ sets you up to sell for a price you’re happy with.

Selling in 2024? Let’s get it done right! Kevin and Jennifer Hanley, REALTORs The Hanley Home Team of Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Partners Southside 904-515-2479 HanleyHomeTeam.com