WHY BUY AND/OR SELL A HOME IN WINTER?

Winter weather usually has everyone hiding indoors—waiting for the spring to start the home buying and selling process. If you are interested in buying or selling a home, don’t wait! There are plenty of advantages to buying and selling during the winter season.

LESS COMPETITION
Many people wait until warmer months to come around to get the ball rolling on house hunting and staging. This means you are going to have a lot of competition. If you can tough out the cold, you may find yourself putting up less of a fight for the home of your dreams.

MOTIVATION
People who buy and sell in the winter are not typically looking to just get an idea—they know what they want. If people are taking the time to stage and hunt during this season, it usually means they are serious and want to close before the competition rolls around in the spring.

GET LOANS FAST
With less people applying for loans because winter is a less competitive season, lenders are going to be less busy. Which is good news for those that do decide to buy and sell; you will get the undivided attention and service you deserve.

SHOW OFF COZY QUALITIES
Take advantage of the snow on the ground if you are selling—show buyers distinct aspects of your home that may pose more appealing during the winter like a fire pit, fireplace, insulated attic—anything to grab their attention.

Buying and selling your home doesn’t have to be long and arduous, check buying and selling your home off your list of things to do this winter!  Call me & I will share my experience & knowledge with you to achieve your real estate goals.

3 Things to Consider Before Listing Your Home as a Short-Term Rental

The Age of Sharing is here, and it’s a phenomenon that’s expected to grow from $15 billion in 2014 to $335 billion by 2025, with services such as home-sharing and maintenance platforms being a big part of that equation. Many homeowners have seen big economic benefits over the years from home-sharing platforms like Airbnb, but if you’re thinking about jumping in to get a piece of that pie, there are a few things you should consider first.

Know Your Regulations
Not all cities see the home-sharing phenomenon as a win-win. Many municipalities are passing new regulations that are often designed to curb its growth. Before signing up for a service like Airbnb, you should find out a few things. Does your city have a framework for short-term rentals? Are there any legal restrictions? How expensive is licensing?

This is critically important, because ignoring licensing regulations can be very costly. In Portland, Oregon for example, the city implemented fines of $1,000-$5,000 per violation for home-sharing operators. In 2017, it collected over $70,000 in fines and fees from a single operator who was found to be in violation of the city’s regulations. 

 Know Where You Live
Cities are made up of distinct neighborhoods, and people are proud of where they live, so, you'll want to think carefully about the impact of a short-term rental on your neighbors before moving forward with your plans. Will the locals have to compete with guests for on-street parking? Will they feel less secure with strangers coming in and out?

You don't need to get permission before renting rooms, but as a courtesy, you'll want to let anyone impacted by your decision in on your plans. You'll also want to establish clear house rules and expectations, especially about noise or late-night outdoor socializing, for your guests. 


Know Your Coverage
You’ll hear horror stories in the news regularly about a home-sharing rental gone bad. In London, a short-term renter threw a party for 100 people, unbeknownst to the homeowner, during which floorboards were ripped and a television pulled off a wall. In another widely-reported example, a short-term rental unit was used as a pop-up brothel. Stories about experiences as bad as these are extremely rare; however, they serve to remind us about the financial and legal risks for hosts who allow strangers into their home. It's important to make sure you have the appropriate coverage if you don't already have it.

Home-sharing companies such as Airbnb or HomeAway offer basic insurance coverage, but what they offer may not be enough, or could be severely limited by exclusions. Your best option is to ask your insurance provider about the nature of the protection, liability coverage and deductible. For example, if you're renting out rooms at your primary residence, short-term, on a regular basis, it may be considered a home-based business, and you could be denied coverage. 

For more information on our Local NC Real Estate Market, be sure to visit my website:  The Smart Real Estate Agent

Even Gingerbread Men & Women Know!