Wes Mazurek writes a monthly column for the Kalamazoo Gazette regarding real estate auctions. This article is an expanded version of the March, 2001 column.

Q. When is the best time to list my home for auction?

A. Properties are listed and sold throughout the entire year, be it the auction method or the conventional method. Auction listings are no different than conventional listings when it comes to buyer interest. Timing is everything. Curb appeal, price and location are the primary factors that buyers look for when purchasing real estate. I always recommend to sellers that they prepare their home for market. What does this mean? It means fixing and repairing the things that buyers notice. Normally, if something looks bad to you, and you live there, it will also look bad to the buyer. Paint and repair as needed to make your home look fresh and well maintained. Have each room neat and clean. Make the exterior of your home, especially the view from the street, look inviting. If you have a basement that is humid, use a dehumidifier. Repair cracks in basement walls. Small things can make all the difference in the world. Getting your home ready doesn't necessarily mean that you need to spend a lot of money. Remember, the cleaner the property looks the easier it will be to sell. Why? Because, as buyers look at your home, they are calculating how many dollars it will cost them to get the property looking the way they'd like and dollar signs mean the price they are willing to pay for your property. If your home needs significant repair, the price they offer may be much lower than what you expect. Many times sellers do not see the obvious because they look at it every day. On the other hand buyers do.

As mentioned earlier, timing is everything in the real estate business. For example, Lake Property would draw considerably more interest at an auction in warm weather as opposed to the colder months. Sales on vacant land will peak during the heavy construction months. As soon as warm weather approaches we experience buyer movement. Our sales objective is to market the property during the time of the year that interest is at its highest level.

Email to Wes@DreamHomeAuctions.com