home sale Archives - Real Estate News and Commentary

November 5, 2025November 5, 2025

Sell Your Home During the Holidays

Should You Sell Your Home During the Holidays?

Every year, as the leaves give way to string lights and cinnamon fills the air, homeowners wonder if it’s a smart move to list their home during the holidays. The conventional wisdom says to wait until spring, when flowers bloom and buyers flood the market. But the truth is more nuanced, and sometimes, timing your sale during the quietest season can be your best move.

The Hidden Advantages

Holiday buyers tend to be serious. They’re not browsing for fun between open houses; they’re relocating for a job, growing a family, or making a life change they can’t postpone. With fewer listings on the market, your home stands out.

A few reasons selling during the holidays can work in your favor:

Less competition: Inventory drops, helping your home stand out to motivated buyers.
Serious buyers only: Those shopping in December and January usually have a real need to move.
Emotional appeal: Seasonal décor, cozy lighting, and warmth can help buyers picture themselves living there.
Job relocations: Corporate transfers often happen at year’s end, creating an active pool of ready buyers.

The Challenges

Selling during the holidays does take planning. Showings might interrupt gatherings, and daylight is limited. Weather also plays a role, mild winter days keep buyers active, but colder-than-normal temperatures, heavy rain, or snow can discourage home tours and slow traffic.

A few factors to keep in mind:

Weather swings: Mild days can boost showings; harsh, wet, or icy days tend to deter them.
Busy schedules: Travel and holiday events can limit viewing times.
Limited daylight: Fewer daylight hours can make late-day showings less appealing.

The Bottom Line

If your home is ready, and your life allows for a bit of flexibility, Sell Your Home During the Holidays can be a surprisingly smart move. The buyers who brave the cold tend to be the most motivated, and your home could shine in a less crowded marketplace.

So before you pack away the idea until spring, remember: the holidays aren’t just about presents and pies, they can also be the season of new beginnings.

What’s your home worth?

By Dan Krell

Disclaimer. This article is not intended to provide nor should it be relied upon for legal and financial advice. Readers should not rely solely on the information contained herein, as it does not purport to be comprehensive or render specific advice. Readers should consult with an attorney regarding local real estate laws and customs as they vary by state and jurisdiction. Using this article without permission is a violation of copyright laws.

October 24, 2025October 24, 2025

Homesale Online Comments

The internet has made it easy for everyone to share opinions, even about homes for sale. On popular real estate portals, you can sometimes find comments from agents or even consumers. These online comments may seem to be an attempt for transparency, but the comments are only opinions. While homesale online comments may be well intentioned, these comments can also create confusion or even hurt a sale.

The Pros and Cons of Homesale Online Comments

For Buyers, the Pros:

Extra insight beyond photos: Comments can tell you things the pictures don’t, such as noise, smells, or condition.
A buyer can save time if comments point out issues that could affect their decision, like poor maintenance or a tricky layout.
A buyer agent’s comments can help buyers compare opinions to the polished listing language.

For Buyers, the Cons:

These are opinions, not facts. Comments are personal. One person’s “too small” might be another person’s “cozy.”
Outdated information. Homes change. Repairs, paint, or new staging can make old comments misleading.
Can create bias. A negative or overly strong opinion can dissuade buyers from touring a perfectly nice home that might actually fit their needs once seen in person.

For Sellers, the Pros:

It’s feedback. If multiple comments say “needs updates,” that’s input that a seller can use for pricing or staging decisions.
Transparency builds trust. A seller who embraces honest feedback can come across as more credible.
Chance to improve marketing. Knowing what people are saying helps agents adjust photos, descriptions, or even small home fixes.

For Sellers, the Cons:

Comments are often unfiltered. Online comments can sound harsher than intended and can make a home look worse than it really is.
Opinions can hurt a sale. Comments, especially from consumers or agents who didn’t see the full picture, are just opinions, but they can spread quickly and turn off potential buyers before they ever schedule a showing.
Older comments may still appear online, even after a seller renovates, shaping perceptions unfairly.
Sellers and their agents can’t always edit or remove third-party comments, even if they’re misleading.

Bottom Line

Online comments about homes can be both a blessing and a curse. For buyers, they add information. But it can also create unfair impressions. For sellers, they can provide useful feedback, as well as unwanted “digital baggage.”

If you’re a seller and find comments that are outdated, inaccurate, or unfair, you can request removal through the portal (website) where they appear. However, success varies. Some platforms, may only remove comments under specific conditions.

Take all online comments with a grain of salt. If something catches your attention, good or bad, should be confirmed in person.

By Dan Krell

What’s your home worth?

September 15, 2025September 15, 2025

Home Didn’t Sell But You Already Moved

What to Do When Your Home Didn’t Sell After You’ve Already Moved

Imagine settling on your new home, but the home you’ve been trying to sell is still on the market. Weeks, or even months, go by and the “For Sale” sign is starting to feel more like a weight than a welcome. This is a scenario that has been occurring more often, yet no one has been talking about it.

What can you do when your house doesn’t sell, but you’ve already moved on with your life? has already moved forward? Here are some options to consider:

1. Take a Fresh Look at the Listing

Sometimes a home just needs a different perspective:

New Photos & Marketing: If your pictures are dark or outdated, refreshing them can breathe new life into the listing.
Price Adjustments: A transitional housing market can be tricky. Long gone are the days of “set it and forget it.” Your agent needs to keep a vigilant eye on market trends. Your home can get overlooked if it’s over-priced, even if it’s slightly over-priced.
Staging and Virtual Staging: An empty home can feel cold. Adding a few tasteful pieces of furniture, either real or digital, can helps buyers imagine themselves living there.

Pros:

Can quickly generate new interest.
Doesn’t require you to give up on selling.

Cons:

Staging, photography, and small fixes can be pricey.
If the market is truly slow, even improvements may not bring a fast sale.

2. Rent It Out

If selling the home isn’t working, owners often decide to rent it:

Short-Term Rentals have become trendy. Apps like Airbnb and VRBO make it possible to host travelers and cover your mortgage while you wait for the right buyer.
Traditional Rental: A one or two year lease gives you steady income and breathing room until the market improves.
Property Management: If you don’t want the hassle, a management company can handle tenants, repairs, and paperwork for a percentage of the rent.

Pros:

Rental income helps offset mortgage and housing expenses.
The home is occupied.

Cons:

Being a landlord means managing tenants, repairs, and any issues with the home.
“Wear-and-tear” occurs. Sometimes the home can get damaged.
Local regulations and/or your HOA rules may restrict rental options.

3. Explore a Lease-to-Own Agreement

This shouldn’t be taken lightly, and you should consult with your attorney before entering into a lease-to-own agreement. However, this arrangement can attract buyers who need time to secure financing. They rent now, and have an option to purchase later.

Pros:

Brings in rental income while keeping a buyer lined up.
Attracts renters who are motivated to become owners.

Cons:

If the buyer ultimately walks away, you’re back to square one.
Requires a clear, legally sound contract.
Can be harder to market compared to a traditional sale.

4. Sell to an Investor or Cash Buyer

Investors are often willing to purchase homes “as-is,” which can be appealing if you’ve already moved and don’t want to handle repairs. There’s a trade off for a speedy cash sale, which is selling at huge discount.

Pros:

Fast closing, sometimes in days.
No repairs, inspections, or appraisals.
Peace of mind when it’s settled.

Cons:

Sale price is likely below market value.
There may be only a few serious cash buyers for your home.

5. Partner With a Different Agent or Approach

If the house has been listed a long time, a new agent with a new strategy may bring fresh energy. Some agents have the knowledge marketing hard-to-sell homes.

Pros:

New strategy and perspective may uncover missed opportunities.
Some agents specialize in challenging sales.
Potential for home buyers to perceive your home sale as a “New Listing.”

Cons:

May feel like starting over.
No guarantee that a new approach will work faster.

6. Keep Perspective

It’s easy to feel frustrated or discouraged. But remember: the situation is temporary. Homes do sell, sometimes it just takes a new angle, a bit of patience, or a creative Plan B.

Final Thought

It’s stressful when you’ve moved and your home didn’t sell. But it’s not the end of the road. You do have options.Taking an honest look at your situation can help you decide on your next move.

By Dan Krell

What’s your home worth?

July 4, 2025July 4, 2025

When Your Home Isn’t Selling

When Your Home Isn’t Selling: Should You Withdraw the Listing or Change Agents?

It can be frustrating and even disheartening when your home isn’t selling and sits on the market without meaningful offers. At some point, you may start to wonder: Is it time to pull the listing, or would switching agents make a difference?

Here’s how to navigate that decision with clarity and confidence.

Why your home isn’t selling

Before taking drastic steps, it helps to examine common reasons a home lingers unsold:

Pricing: Even in strong markets, an overpriced home will have trouble. Buyers today are savvy and have plenty of data at their fingertips. Buyers often know value better than we think.
Condition & Presentation: Today’s Buyers shop online first. Poor photos, clutter, or deferred maintenance can easily turn them off.
Market Dynamics: Interest rates, seasonal patterns, and local supply and demand all play a role AND affect buyer urgency
Marketing Reach: Not all agents/teams use customized strategies. Digital exposure, staging guidance, and proactive outreach to other agents matter.

Should you withdraw the listing?

If your circumstances have changed, perhaps you’re no longer ready to move, or you want to wait for a better market, withdrawing your MLS listing might make sense. Just keep in mind:

Some MLS systems track the days on market, so relisting later doesn’t always give you a fresh slate.
Buyers and agents may notice previous listings, so timing and presentation are key when you return to market.

Is it time to change agents?

Sometimes, a fresh perspective and renewed energy are exactly what’s needed. It may be time to consider other agents if:

You feel your listing was not aggressively marketed.
Communication was lacking, you weren’t getting honest feedback, clear updates, or strategic advice.
The agent or team did not deliver what was promised, whether that was availability, professional photography, staging help, open houses, or specific advertising commitments.
The agent or team was simply difficult to work with, adding stress to an already demanding process.
You suspect pricing guidance wasn’t in line with current local realities.
A new agent can often bring different tools, marketing channels, and negotiation strengths to reposition your home for a better result.

Bottom line

Whether you decide to withdraw your MLS listing and wait for a better time, or switch agents to get renewed energy, make sure your decision is driven by facts, not just frustration. A thoughtful strategy, informed by data and market insights, will put you in the best position to sell on your terms. A seasoned real estate professional can help you assess the data and chart the best next steps.

What are pricing trends in your neighborhood?

What’s your home worth?

By Dan Krell
Copyright © 2025

September 5, 2023September 5, 2023

Home sale gimmicks?

Over the past fifteen or so years I’ve written a few articles about home sale gimmicks. And not surprisingly, it’s another year with a new real estate gimmick. In the past I’ve explained and debunked the effects on a home sale of various ploys such as under-pricing, creating buzz, throwing the block party open house, etc, etc, etc. And yet it just doesn’t seem to end. Instead of being honest and straight forward with a solid common-sense strategy, some real estate agents are just good at devising ploys to entice unsuspecting home sellers to list with them.

This year’s shiny item is a nationwide “auction” site that is marketed to sell a home fast for more money. It is used in tandem with the MLS. This is how it works…

The home is listed as usual in the MLS with descriptions, photos and all the accoutrements. The home is simultaneously listed on the “auction” site. The MLS listing has the “list price.” Buyers and agents are redirected to the “auction” site for price and terms that are acceptable to the home seller. This gimmick strategy is sold as encouraging multiple offers on the home. Agents make their offers on the site. The seller chooses an offer and goes under contract.

This sounds like the old tried and true MLS home sale listing with extra steps!

I get it though. The old tried and true home sales model is boring. Post the listing in the MLS with your price and terms. Post terrific photos. Maybe even add a floorplan and a video. Possibly have an open house. And this year (2023), with the average days on market being seven, select one of the multiple offers you’ve received and ratify the contract.

Do gimmicks get your attention? Do you utter some oohs and aahs? But does it really make sense?

In my experience, most home sellers want to sell their home quick and for top dollar. Research into some home sale gimmicks have concluded that it could actually harm your sale by either getting a lower net price, longer time on market, or worse – a lower net price and a long time on market!

For a solid result, stick with the tried-and-true home sale experience. Don’t rely on gimmicks that promise activity on your listing, higher sale prices, etc. Work with an experienced licensed real estate agent who can present a comprehensive and coherent home sale marketing plan.

By Dan Krell
Copyright © 2023

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