Stay...or go?

Is there anything as inviting as coming home to a roaring fire, blankets that beckon and steaming mugs of hot cocoa?

Selling a home during winter—when properly staged, prepped and priced—can be the most favorable time of year. I caught up with local real estate guru Denise Zervos, who, along with her husband Mark, has run The Luxury Home Experts at Platinum Real Estate for the last 35 years, to find out how and why.

“The market in Lake County has definitely not cooled with the weather the past several weeks,” she says, pointing out the recent sales in the graphic shown here. “We hear people say they are going to wait until spring to put their house on the market. We do not agree on this though process. If you wait that long, you’ll miss out on the reduced competition occurring now and thru the winter market. Plus, buyers are more motivated to buy this time of year. The fourth and first quarter is also when we experience an uptick in relocation for jobs.”

Interest rates slightly dropping the past few months and stabilizing has also sparked the number of transactions Denise and Mark are seeing.

“Glistening snow-covered lawns and snow-capped trees can make your home’s exterior look its prettiest all year,” she says. “We are masterful when it comes to showcasing your home’s cozy vibes and welcoming buyers to come in from the cold.”

Should You Stay or Go?

Most of the real estate agents at Platinum, like Denise, are certified in as they like to call it, “right-sizing.”

“This term doesn’t mean up-sizing or down-sizing,” she says. “It is about moving smart and finding a space that matches your goals, your rhythm, and your version of comfort. For some, that means exchanging extra square footage for simplicity and freedom with less to clean, lower utilities and the joy of locking the door and traveling without worry. For others, it means stepping into a home with more breathing room and dedicated space for work, hobbies, visiting guests or simply more elbow room for living fully. There comes a time in every homeowner’s life when the house that once fit perfectly doesn’t anymore.” 

Here are four signs it might be time to consider right-sizing:

• You’re spending more time maintaining your home than enjoying it.
• You’ve outgrown your layout, your storage or your backyard.
• You hear yourself saying, “We don’t even use half this space.”
• Your goals for the next five years do not match the home you’re living in.

“The good news is that with todays market in Lake County, both buyers and sellers are benefitting,” she says. “We take plenty of time meeting with homeowners to decipher all the pros and cons of making a move. After we ask the big questions, they might decide to stay in their home and make modifications such as adding a first-floor bedroom or addition.”

Oftentimes after they take a client through this process and they make the move, they tell Denise and her team they wish they hadn’t waited so long, that they were stuck in their old place. 

“Life changes can feel scary. We can help you evaluate and navigate into a lifestyle that feels more aligned. A home should fit your life, not the other way around.” she says.

Headquartered within The Platinum Center, at 7200 Mentor Street in Mentor, Platinum Real Estate has offices in Northeast Ohio and Columbus, Florida and South Carolina,Nevada, California, and Mexico. To get more information, call 216-990-2100 or 440-974-SALE or or visit TheLuxuryHomeExperts.com.