BY SOMMER DONAHOE
TIME SELL!
TO Some things have changed since my summer article –
we have migrated into Phase 2.5 of the “Safer at
Home” restrictions (as of press time), the kids are
back in school (virtually or in-person), summer has
turned to fall … but one thing that hasn’t changed is
the strong real estate market in our area.
While some of you may not be a fan of 2020 for a multitude of reasons,
I’m happy to share some good news – this year in the Triangle,
real estate has been one for the record books! Beautiful homes and
low interest rates have kept our local real estate market strong, even
in the midst of the pandemic. In fact, with historically low inventory
numbers, these past several months have been great for home
sellers. Actually, both sides of the real estate transaction have benefi
tted in the current market, creating win-win opportunities for all
involved. Buyers and agents are building their wish lists and going
into showings ready to make an off er – music to sellers’ ears!
While COVID-19 has changed the process of real estate sales and
purchases, the skills and tools real estate agents bring to the table
continue to be as eff ective as ever. With all the movement this year
in the Triangle’s real estate market, inventory has continued to be
low and homes are going under contract extremely quickly. At the
time this article was written, the Triangle Multiple Listing Service
(TMLS) had over 4,600 homes active for sale, of which more than
2,500 were resale homes. In past years, we were seeing roughly
9,000-11,000 homes active during the same time period.
Sellers and agents have done a fantastic job of bringing attention
to their listings during this unique time by working the process together.
Here are a few of the ways they continue to ensure success:
– Realtors are still able to perform home visits, when they gather
details for an evaluation and give home sellers a current market
analysis. Additionally, thanks to technology like Zoom and Face-
Time (and even the old reliable – the phone call!), they have been
able to modify the way they tackle this critical fi rst appointment.
– Pre-listing! Th is includes scheduling the right people to stage,
paint, fi x-up, measure, and photograph your home. Creating
the picture-perfect house for marketing ensures the best fi rst im-
pression and will get buyers to fall in love with your house quickly.
– House showings can be done virtually. Of course, in-person is
certainly still an option – just don’t forget your mask! So even in
this unique home selling situation, it’s still a great time to get
your listing on the MLS, online, and ready for buyers.
With the fl uid phase guidelines, realtors will continue to pivot
their strategic plans to get homes on the market and will work
diligently to get their sellers top dollar for their beloved homes.
Having your house well-staged, clean, and well-lit gives the
photographer the perfect opportunity to capture the beauty and
34 CIRCA Magazine | October • November • December 2020 | www.circamagazine.com
/www.circamagazine.com