Shortage of Homes for Sale in Sudbury Might Help You Sell During COVID
David Kurt
What made you decide to get into real estate? I was one year into working a “real job”; the type you study hard and go to University for when I re...
What made you decide to get into real estate? I was one year into working a “real job”; the type you study hard and go to University for when I re...
Selling Your Sudbury Home During COVID? You Might Have an Edge...
Less is more when it comes to successfully selling your home in Sudbury during the COVID pandemic. That’s because if you’re still going ahead with your plans to sell right now, there’s dramatically less competition on the market—and this might be true for the coming months ahead, too. Tristan Ritchie and I chatted about it on our latest Lake City Live; but the number of active listings, number of new listings are incredibly low for the spring market.
Usually, the spring months bring a surge of listings to Sudbury's market. Depending on your area, there would either be a comparable surge of buyers eager to relocate, or more properties than there are interested buyers. Of course, what used to be typical is no longer, as we all adjust to stay-at-home measures and day-to-day headlines.
While many would-be buyers have decided to hold off on their plans to purchase, there are still motivated buyers looking to take advantage of low-interest rates, the possibility of fewer competing buyers, and the tech that’s allowing open houses to still happen (albeit virtually). In the mix, too, are potential buyers who have to move due to life changes, employment, and other personal reasons that make right now their time to make a move.
Historically we have been in a market where buyers feel there is a shortage of listings in the market; constantly buyers are eager and look for anticipation at Realtor.ca every morning to see the new listings. With the COVID shutdown we are seeing even fewer “for sale” signs in your neighbourhood; this may help your home benefit for the balance of active listings available in the Sudbury Real Estate market. If you are deciding to proceed with listing your home in the current environment, there are a few things to keep in mind to make sure you can benefit from this unexpected positive.
Less competition = more focus on potential issues.
Even if a buyer has a pressing need to move ASAP with fewer options to consider there’s more time to take a critical eye to what’s available. Mainly, the attention will be paid to issues relating to condition over style. With an unknown timeline for life getting back to normal, there’s also an unknown timeline for a potential new owner to embark on a renovation, being able to hire professionals to make fixes or longer wait times for deliveries (especially for DIYers). Waiting for curb-side pickup at Home Depot, Home Hardware or Lowes in Sudbury has been a painful process (we know they are doing their best, just overall not an easy time to be renovating). However, it looks like Hardware Stores in Sudbury may be open as of Monday May 11th with a COVID process in place. Addressing key conditions and cosmetic issues now will help nudge a buyer towards your home versus another.
We made a great post about how to "Over Come" Common Deal Breakers! Take a peak!
Camera & Video appeal is now just as important as curb appeal.
The virtual “open house” is a must right now due to social distancing guidelines that restrict gatherings. This means that your realtor will either record a walk-through, host livestream tours, or schedule tours via FaceTime or Zoom. However, the same tech that makes virtual tours convenient can also distort many aspects within your home. For instance, paint colours might appear off, interior lighting can create a yellow cast, shadows may appear darker and clutter can look worse than it is. Lake City Realty's Selling the Rock Podcast goes over what the perfect listing looks like during COVID in a recent episode. Our team would be more than happy to help you sell in Sudbury's Spring - low inventory market.
Have masks, gloves, and other precautionary safety measures on-hand.
After a virtual showing, serious buyers will want to come by to see your home in person. Your realtor will give you more notice when an in-person showing will occur, to allow you time to find a place to go to while the showing happens. Beforehand, follow all the safety precautions to disinfect your home. Keep extra masks and gloves available (in sealed packages) just in case the buyers do not have them on hand. Reduce the chance of contact with surfaces by leaving all lights on and interior doors open. Once the showing is over, do another clean-up to disinfect commonly touched surfaces.
Expect some delays.
While your realtor has been adapting to the new process of selling a home during a pandemic, other key parts of the process can face delays. For instance, it might be difficult to get in touch with lawyers or schedule inspections. Appraisals have been taking a lot longer in the Sudbury Market as well. I find a lot of my buyers are needing around 2 weeks for conditions to be fulfilled (compared to just over a week in a normal marketplace). Issues that could be resolved with a quick meeting may go back-in-forth as others get used to working remotely. Limited bank hours might also affect a potential buyer’s ability to get financing. Stay calm when faced with delays, because that is the one thing that can be predicted during this uncertain time.
Stay on top of your own home search.
With so much uncertainty happening right now, it’s even more important to have a new home lined up once you’re ready. That’s because short-term and seasonal rentals (and even Airbnbs) might not be available in many areas for when you’re between homes, due to new local regulations. Sudbury has followed the province demand for a stop in all 'short-term' rentals (this includes bed and breakfast and AirBnB listings).
For a comprehensive look at our buying experience, take a look at Lake City Realty's Steps of the Buying Process.
Whether or not reduced inventory due to COVID-19 concerns can help you sell your home will depend on your area and the overall demand. With the exception of cleaning routines, though, the above advice will apply to increase the odds of a successful sale. Staying prepared (and keeping a positive attitude) goes a long way no matter when you plan to list your home for sale.
Wondering What Sudbury's Low Inventory Means For You?
Schedule a call with Lake City Realty's Broker of Record, David Kurt, to determine what your best options are.