Fall Market Heats Up

We have all had to adapt to the new COIVD-19 realities that 2020 has forced upon us. With the arrival of cooler weather and the leaves changing colour, sadly, there is no light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel.  When the COIVD-19 started, the sale of houses was hit extremely hard. However, it did not take long for the market to gain momentum. Over the last few months, we have strengthened our cleaning protocols and have seen the use of online signatures increase. The extremely low mortgage rates, low inventory and the increased use of virtual tours have also helped to have the market take off. 

Is this the Right Time to Sell?

With the arrival of Fall, you may be asking yourself if I should be listing my home? The answer is yes. When you do, the first step is to contact Andy Oswald, your trusted Real Estate Agent REALTOR®. Start looking right away to familiarize yourself with the market and decide what you are looking for as you sell your current home. The most effective way to do this is to make lists of both needs and wants. 

When we used to have “normal” years, the Fall was an excellent time to sell your home. Typically, only serious buyers would be looking for a new home. The people who had looked all summer wanted to buy before the colder weather arrived. While the demand for homes has continued to grow, we do not expect any slowdown this Fall. 

Preparing your Home for Sale

Always look at your home with the eyes of a prospective buyer. Be critical, and take steps to have your home ready to sell. Andy will help decide what will have the most significant impact on the buyers. 

Curb Appeal

Start with the outside, curb appeal is critical. If a buyer is serious, they will drive by your house and check it and the neighbourhood out. They will do this before contacting the Agent, so everything must be ready before the listing goes active. You should get a home inspection.  Always use a Registered Home Inspector who is a member of the Ontario Association of Home Inspections. With their report, you can make any necessary repairs, which will speed up the selling process.

Inside the House

Inside the house, you should take on simple tasks like touching up paint. Major renovations are not recommended as the cost and time to make the renovations may not be worth the investment. This is even more important this year when houses are selling very quickly. Andy is the best person to check with before taking on any major renovations.

Mortgage Pre-Approval

Ottawa’s housing market is moving at a rapid pace, and you want to ensure that you are ready to go once you are prepared to start your search. Having a mortgage pre-approval will ensure that you are looking at homes in the right price range for your family. Remember that the actual full approval for a mortgage can only happen when there is an accepted offer. A mortgage pre-approval is not a guarantee. There are many great mortgage brokers in Ottawa. Work with Andy to find the best one for you.

Get Ready 

When you decide to sell your home, Andy will help you with each step. He will help with all the sale stages, including getting it ready for the buyers and preparing for Open Houses. These are fascinating times in the Ottawa real estate market. If you decide to sell your home this Fall, you will get a price much higher than you have ever dreamed of. Fall 2020 is the time to sell.

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