How To Prep Your Home To SELL

With fall coming, it’s a fabulous time to list your home! If you’ve been on the fence about selling, we understand. It’s been a tumultuous eighteen months. But the real estate market shows no signs of slowing, and if you’d like to capitalize on this exciting market and earn a fabulous price for your home, we’d love to help.

Here are a few great first steps to get you started:

1. Declutter! This is a terrific opportunity to get rid of items you’re no longer using or enjoying. If you’re not ready to part with many of your things, consider a temporary storage unit.

2. Deep clean! Set aside a significant amount of time or hire a pro, then keep it clean until you close so it’s in great shape for showings.

3. Repair! Patch holes in the walls, replace broken appliances, change burnt out light bulbs.

4. Paint! Many homeowners are surprised by how a new coat of neutral paint can refresh their home. We’re happy to recommend paint colors that will enhance the beauty of your home.

5. Boost curb appeal! The first impression is most important, so consider improving outdoor light fixtures, replacing the mailbox, arranging patio furniture and/or sprucing up the landscaping. Even a few pots of colorful flowers can make a huge difference in welcoming potential buyers.

In addition, research shows a staged home generally sells faster and for more money. The real estate market is highly competitive and staging will give you a leg up on the competition. When a potential buyer enters your home, you want to provide a backdrop for them to experience the home — a place where they can see how rooms function and how the home ‘feels’. Most importantly, staging lets you get an objective opinion as seen through a buyer’s eyes – it’s not a reflection on your personal style or taste, but about getting you the most bang for your buck and top dollar on your sale.

For everything you need to know about selling your home, check out our Seller’s Guide. At Karla Murtaugh Homes, our team is committed to ensuring that each and every transaction is handled in the most effective manner possible, and with the trust and integrity you deserve.

Be sure to reach out to us today for your complimentary consultation. We’ll walk you through every step!

Ridgefield July Market Report – Prices Remain High

Sales Slowing, But Prices Remain High

2020 was an unusually busy year for real estate across the entire nation with low inventory and high numbers of buyers. As we enter the second half of 2021, we are seeing a slight slowdown in the number of sales happening and a return to seasonality in the market. This is understandable given people are once again taking vacations. July saw the number of unit sales decrease from 72 in 2020 to 55 in 2021. Year-to-date sales stayed elevated however with 292 homes closing in 2021 compared to 229 last year (an increase of 28%).

Overall Dollar Volume, Median & Average Prices Up

Due to an overall increase in price sales volume has not suffered in July despite the slowdown, staying the same at over $50-million dollars. Year-to-date sales dollar volume also increased over 2020 by a margin of 61%, with a total of $272,974,437 sold vs. $169,811,694 by this time last year. The median price of a single-family home in Ridgefield was up 30% year over year standing at $825,000 currently, and was up 37% ($875,000) when comparing July sales only, The average sales price increased 26% to $934,844 year year-to-date.


Looking Ahead

Our biggest challenge moving into Q3 and Q4 2021 is the lack of inventory. Particularly at more competitive price points ($600,000-$900,000), the lack of new homes entering the market is cause for concern. There are still buyers looking for homes, although that seems to be slowing slightly as buyer fatigue sets in. For now, homes that in good condition and are priced accordingly are still selling at or above list price, and we are seeing some multiple offer situations. It will be interesting to see how the fall market rebounds as mortgage rates continue to remain at record lows, prices stabilize and the Delta variant of Covid-19 comes into play. It does seem to be moving towards a more balanced market for buyers and sellers.

Click here to see a breakdown by price or click here to see quick summary.

End of Summer Staycation Ideas to Enjoy Within Driving Distance of Ridgefield

We still have almost a full month left of summer before school starts and there are so many incredible opportunities for family outings within driving distance of Ridgefield. If you’re looking for some summer fun this month, here are a few of our favorite activities!

1. Pick your own peaches, nectarines and blueberries at Lyman Orchards! They also have an incredible maze of over 350,000 sunflowers to explore.

2. Visit Ambler Farm for outdoor yoga, live music, tomato tastings, farm stand and much more!

3. Registration is open for TriRidgefield on August 29, 2021! If you’re been working out all summer, this could be a great competition for you.

4. Bring the kids to a museum! Until September 6, Connecticut children age 18 and under plus one accompanying Connecticut resident adult can visit participating museums free of charge through the Connecticut Summer at the Museum program.

5. Hike Kent Falls State Park, and don’t forget to pack a picnic.

6. Head to Greenwich Polo Club for public matches every Sunday afternoon.

7. Join a group ride with the Ridgefield Bicycle Sport Club! They hold several each week, and Thirsty Thursdays might be our favorite because they always end someplace fun like Sarah’s Wine Bar.

8. We all scream for ice cream! Ridgefield is home to several fantastic ice cream parlors. We’re partial to our neighbors at Deborah Ann’s Sweet Shop right down Main Street from our office, as well as Ferris Acres Creamery in nearby Newtown where you can see the cows from the pickup window. Click the link above for several more suggestions in our county – we dare you to try them all!

If you need more ideas, check out the Summer Staycation Ideas list we posted at the beginning of the season. Wishing you all a very happy and healthy end of summer here in Ridgefield!