The New Year is right around the corner! A year of new beginnings and opportunities to make real estate dreams a reality. If you're planning on or thinking of selling your home in 2026, these are the tips I would give my seller to take action now!
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Do Deferred Maintenance NOW!
Spend time decluttering your home and tending to repairs that need attention. Refresh your paint, touch up the baseboards, and work through that “honey-do” list you may have been putting off for months. Focus on updates that will give the best return. You likely don’t need a full remodel. Simple things like fresh paint, updated fixtures, and curb appeal improvements often create the greatest impact for the least cost. Stage your home so that it is presented in its most favorable condition!
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Research your Competition:
You may have a listing price in mind based off of recent closed properties in your neighborhood. In today’s market, it is crucial to price your home comparable to active listings vs. closed. Put yourself in a buyer’s shoes - What other homes are they looking at in your area? Are you priced competitively? Working with a knowledgeable agent will help provide this comp data and insight to price your home and get the most out of your most valuable asset.
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Know Where Your Potential Buyers Are
Knowing your audience helps to better understand how to get the most valuable visibility for your home. Where is that perfect buyer looking? Whether it’s Open Houses, social media, digital platforms like Zillow or the MLS, or even print - presence is everything! Ensure your home has maximum visibility to reach the highest number of qualified buyers.
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Think About Your Next Move
Whether you’re upsizing, downsizing, or relocating, knowing where you’re going next helps make the selling timeline clearer. Timing is an important factor in selling your home due to market conditions, inventory levels, and demand. Preparing early, aligning with your goals, and choosing the right moment helps avoid rushed decisions and leads to a smoother, more predictable selling process.
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Work With An Agent That Knows the Area!
An agent that knows the area also knows its best selling factors. Local schools, seasonal attractions, tax rates, and the charming quirks that make your neighborhood desirable. They know the competition and how to make your home stand out. Local parks, commuter roads, and all things that make the area “the best.” The small local business around the corner with the best pies? Yep, they know that too.
As a Bee Cave and Austin native for 20+ years, I am dedicated to serving the people of this community by helping them make some of the biggest decisions of their lives. I strive to do that with strong market knowledge, contract proficiency and professionalism. This community has my heart! If you’re thinking about making moves this year, please reach out and we can chat about your goals!