Sarah Eggleston - South King County Realtor

Homes have been going pending very quickly; usually less than a week or two, but the market constantly changes. How long a home is pending before it is sold varies as well. The exact time it takes to sell a home depends on a few things, including the time of year, local housing market conditions, the condition of your home, and how the buyer is financing. If a buyer is using a loan to make the purchase it usually takes about 30 days to close, whereas cash deals can move much more quickly, sometimes just a few days. The longer your home is on the market, the more money you lose. Most showing activity will come the first weekend the home is on the market from those buyers who have already been looking for a home. New buyers will trickle into the market, but most won’t return to a house a second time. Plus, you’ll still have to pay your mortgage, taxes, and utilities until the buyer officially closes. Each home is different, so set up an appointment today to discuss your situation.

King County is quite large, and the market varies from area to area, so it really depends on your goals and what areas you're looking at. In general, the market has been very competitive, but you can still find great deals and home appreciation in the region is expected to continue. There are many large and growing businesses that are expanding in our county, which means demand for homes will continue to drive prices and home values up.

In the current market, homes are going pending quickly after they are listed. In Renton, homes are staying on the market for 5 days on average. Once the home goes pending, the sales contract will define exactly how long it will be until the home is sold. Generally, this is somewhere between 15 and 45 days with some lasting longer and some having a shorter turnaround, depending on the particular situation.

Getting a pre-sale home inspected isn’t always necessary, but it can be a good idea. Some homebuyers will feel uncomfortable purchasing a house without seeing a home inspection. Many will often hire their own inspector but some will be satisfied with the report you provided. Some buyers choose to do an inspection before putting an offer in, but this can cut into times that are available for others to see your home. Getting a home inspection prior to listing can reduce the amount of inspections while the home is listed. Whether you get an inspection on the home before listing is a personal decision that should be discussed with your real estate agent.

First impressions matter when selling your home. First, make sure that major systems like the HVAC, plumbing and electrical all work properly. Problems with these systems can give a buyer ways to negotiate down on the price or pass on the property altogether. Next is cleaning and decluttering. This means giving the entire house a thorough cleaning and removing personal items. Mop the floors, scrub the bathrooms, and get rid of all the grime in the kitchen. Little things like patching holes in the wall, changing burned-out lightbulbs, and repairing broken appliances can make your place stand out in a crowded market. And don’t forget about the power a fresh coat of paint can have!