Summer is HERE!

An article by Stacy Barry

Whoa! Summer is here. The sun is out and it is hot. I’m not just talking about the weather here in Central Indiana. Homes are listing and selling very quickly in the Indy metro area. I love selling homes in the summer! I feel as a seller you are able to showcase your home inside and out. Not only do you make sure you are model home ready on the inside you are able to let your personality shine on the outside. I’m talking about little things… the lilac bush you planted in the backyard for your family to enjoy that aroma that makes you feel like you are on vacation year round… or the Japanese maple that you saved for because you feel it added so much to your so-so landscaping.

This is the best time to show off how you can use the exterior of your home. Patio furniture, front porch swings/chairs, umbrellas and little touches like outdoor lanterns and lighting can really make a home memorable! Although it is a bit more work for the seller during these months sprucing up the curb appeal of your home (you can get away with less sprucing in the winter ) it can be the biggest selling point for that buyer.

I also love showing homes to buyers during the warm summer months. I feel that buyers may be able to get a better feel for the overall package that the home comes with. By this I mean the yard (flowers, bushes and basically the maintence), mechanics of home and the overall neighborhood . When you have a home inspected in the winter there are a few key items that you can’t be sure of! For example many times we close on homes when a roof is covered with snow and therefore it does not get a proper evaluation. Also when testing a home’s a/c unit in the colder months, running the system can damage it and, therefore, it cannot be tested. Consistent outdoor temperatures above 60 to 65 degrees for at least 48 hours prior to inspection is required to safely run the A/C system.

I also feel the buyer gets a better feel for the neighborhood and the surrounding amenities when you are able to see how many people are outside, if they are outside doing maintence and if people use the amenities available to the given area. I believe this knowledge gives the buyer information that enables them to make an educated decision about the home. My goal is to make sure my buyers and sellers are well-informed!