{"id":329,"date":"2025-10-23T15:00:46","date_gmt":"2025-10-23T20:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/?p=329"},"modified":"2025-10-23T15:00:46","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T20:00:46","slug":"planning-to-sell-in-2026-start-the-prep-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/?p=329","title":{"rendered":"Planning To Sell in 2026? Start the Prep Now"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<div class=\"pt-8 px-8\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"pt-8 px-8\">\n<h2 class=\"profile-color-text text-3xl\">Planning To Sell in 2026? Start the Prep Now<\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"mt-6 text-base-content flex items-center flex-wrap gap-x-4 gap-y-2\"><span class=\"flex items-center flex-wrap gap-1\"><time class=\"text-base-content\" datetime=\"2025-10-22T10:30:00Z\">Wednesday October 22nd, 2025<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"mt-6 text-base-content flex items-center flex-wrap gap-x-4 gap-y-2\"><span class=\"flex items-center flex-wrap gap-1\"><a class=\"text-base-content\" href=\"https:\/\/www.simplifyingthemarket.com\/en\/category\/sellers\/?a=1000025117-654188f2b9e9f721433bea74f0bf3424\">For Sellers,<\/a><a class=\"text-base-content\" href=\"https:\/\/www.simplifyingthemarket.com\/en\/category\/selling-tips\/?a=1000025117-654188f2b9e9f721433bea74f0bf3424\">Selling Tips<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<div>Article from Keeping Current Matters<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"p-6 px-8\">\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-3 sm:flex gap-1 flex-wrap w-fit sm:w-full my-4\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"mt-6 flex flex-col gap-4 mb-8\">\n<div class=\"mb-2\">\n<p>You\u2019ve got big plans for 2026. But what you do<em>\u00a0<\/em><strong><em>this year<\/em><\/strong><em>\u00a0<\/em>could be the difference between a smooth sale and a stressful one. If you\u2019re thinking of selling next spring (the busiest season in real estate), the smartest move you can make is to start prepping now. As\u00a0<em>Realtor.com<\/em>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.realtor.com\/research\/fall-sell-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">says<\/a>:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em>\u201cIf you\u2019re aiming to sell in 2026, now is the time to start preparing<\/em><\/strong><em>, especially if you want to maximize the spring market\u2019s higher buyer activity.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Because the reality is, from small repairs to touch-ups and decluttering,\u00a0<strong>the earlier you start, the easier it\u2019ll be when you\u2019re ready to list<\/strong>. And, the better your house will look when it\u2019s time for it to hit the market.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Why Starting Now Matters<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Talk to any good agent and they\u2019ll tell you that you can\u2019t afford to skip repairs in today\u2019s market. There are\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplifyingthemarket.com\/2025\/09\/24\/why-buyers-and-sellers-face-very-different-conditions-today\/?a=1000025117-654188f2b9e9f721433bea74f0bf3424\">more homes<\/a>\u00a0for sale right now than there have been in years. And since buyers have more to choose from, your house is going to need to look its best to stand out and get the attention it deserves.<\/p>\n<p>Now, that doesn\u2019t mean you have to do a full-on renovation. But it does mean you\u2019ll want to tackle\u00a0<em>some\u00a0<\/em>projects before you sell.\u00a0<strong>Your house will sell if it\u2019s prepped right.<\/strong>\u00a0And you don\u2019t want to be left scrambling in the spring to get the work done.<\/p>\n<p>Because here\u2019s the advantage you have now. If you start this year, you\u2019ll be able to space those upgrades and fixes out however you want to.\u00a0<strong>More time. Less stress. No sense of being rushed or racing the clock.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Whether it\u2019s fixing that leaky faucet, repainting your front door, or finally replacing your roof, you can do it right if you start now. And you have the time to find great contractors without blowing your budget or paying extra for rushed jobs.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Get an Agent\u2019s Advice Early<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>To figure out what\u2019s worth doing and what\u2019s not in your market, you need to\u00a0<strong>talk to a local agent early.\u00a0<\/strong>That way you\u2019re not wasting your time or money on something that won\u2019t help your bottom line. As\u00a0<em>Realtor.com<\/em>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.realtor.com\/research\/fall-sell-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">explains<\/a>:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>\u201cRespondents overwhelmingly agree that both buyers and sellers enjoy a smoother, more successful experience when they start early. In fact,\u00a0<\/em><strong><em>a recent survey reveals that, for sellers, bringing a real estate agent into the process sooner can pay off significantly.<\/em><\/strong><em>\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>A skilled agent can tell you:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>What buyers in your local area are looking for<\/li>\n<li>The repairs or updates you need to do before you list<\/li>\n<li>How to prioritize the projects, if you can\u2019t do them all<\/li>\n<li>Skilled local contractors who can help you get the work done<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>And having that information up front is a game changer.<\/p>\n<p>To give you a rough idea of what may come up in that conversation, here are the most common updates agents are recommending today, according to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/cms.nar.realtor\/sites\/default\/files\/2025-04\/2025-remodeling-impact-report_04-09-2025.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">research<\/a>\u00a0from the\u00a0<em>National Association of Realtors<\/em>\u00a0(NAR):<\/p>\n<p><strong><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/files.keepingcurrentmatters.com\/KeepingCurrentMatters\/content\/images\/20251016\/20251022-Top-Projects-Agents-Recommend-Before-Selling-original.png\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Just remember, what\u2019s worth updating really depends on the homes you\u2019re competing with in your market.\u00a0<\/strong>Some areas don\u2019t have a ton of inventory, so little updates may be all you need to tackle. In other areas, there are far more homes for sale, so you may need to do a bit more to make your house stand out.<\/p>\n<p>Your agent will walk you through what you need to do for your specific house and market. And that\u2019s expertise that\u2019ll really pay off.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"text-xl mb-2\">Bottom Line<\/h3>\n<p>If your plan is to sell in 2026, it&#8217;s time to get serious. Taking some time to prep means you\u2019ll hit the market confident, ready, and ahead of other sellers who waited until January to get started.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Want to know which projects are getting the biggest return on their investment in our market?\u00a0<\/strong>Let\u2019s connect so you can head into next spring with a solid game plan.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"p-6 px-8\">\n<div class=\"mt-6 flex flex-col gap-4 mb-8\">\n<div class=\"mb-2\">\n<p><strong>Just remember, what\u2019s worth updating really depends on the homes you\u2019re competing with in your market.\u00a0<\/strong>Some areas don\u2019t have a ton of inventory, so little updates may be all you need to tackle. In other areas, there are far more homes for sale, so you may need to do a bit more to make your house stand out.<\/p>\n<p>Your agent will walk you through what you need to do for your specific house and market. And that\u2019s expertise that\u2019ll really pay off.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"text-xl mb-2\">Bottom Line<\/h3>\n<p>If your plan is to sell in 2026, it&#8217;s time to get serious. Taking some time to prep means you\u2019ll hit the market confident, ready, and ahead of other sellers who waited until January to get started.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Want to know which projects are getting the biggest return on their investment in our market?\u00a0<\/strong>Let\u2019s connect so you can head into next spring with a solid game plan.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p data-start=\"183\" data-end=\"508\"><strong data-start=\"183\" data-end=\"240\">\ud83d\udccd Twila Bertrand \u2013 REALTOR\u00ae | CENTURY 21 Cota Realty<\/strong><br data-start=\"240\" data-end=\"243\" \/>Serving <strong data-start=\"251\" data-end=\"268\">Lufkin, Texas<\/strong> and surrounding East Texas communities with honesty, dedication, and results.<br data-start=\"346\" data-end=\"349\" \/>Whether you\u2019re <strong data-start=\"364\" data-end=\"390\">buying your first home<\/strong>, <strong data-start=\"392\" data-end=\"417\">selling your property<\/strong>, or just exploring your options, I\u2019m here to help make every step smooth and successful.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"510\" data-end=\"673\">\u2728 <strong data-start=\"512\" data-end=\"559\">Looking for the Best Realtor in Lufkin, TX?<\/strong><br data-start=\"559\" data-end=\"562\" \/>Call or text <strong data-start=\"575\" data-end=\"593\">Twila Bertrand<\/strong> today to see why clients trust me to deliver exceptional service and results!<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"510\" data-end=\"673\"><strong>A link to many of my previous client testimonials on my Zillow website is below:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"510\" data-end=\"673\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zillow.com\/profile\/Twila%20Bertrand\">https:\/\/www.zillow.com\/profile\/Twila%20Bertrand<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"675\" data-end=\"889\">\ud83d\udcde Direct Cell: <strong data-start=\"678\" data-end=\"701\">936-208-7631<\/strong><br data-start=\"701\" data-end=\"704\" \/>\ud83d\udce7 Direct Email: <strong>twilabertrand@gmail.com<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"675\" data-end=\"889\">\ud83c\udf10\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/\">https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"675\" data-end=\"889\">\ud83c\udfe1 <em data-start=\"810\" data-end=\"887\">Helping families reach milestones and find their way home in Lufkin, Texas.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Planning To Sell in 2026? Start the Prep Now &nbsp; Wednesday October 22nd, 2025 For Sellers,Selling Tips Article from Keeping Current Matters You\u2019ve got big plans for 2026. But what you do\u00a0this year\u00a0could be the difference between a smooth sale and a stressful one. If you\u2019re thinking of selling next spring (the busiest season in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":194391,"featured_media":330,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[27,157,155,107,148,105,156,43,158,22,21,39,15,85,46,114,58,100],"class_list":["post-329","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-real-estate","tag-angelina-county-real-estate","tag-angelina-county-realtor","tag-award-winning-agent","tag-best-real-estate-agent","tag-best-real-estate-agent-in-lufkin-tx","tag-best-realtor-in-lufkin","tag-best-realtor-in-lufkin-t","tag-homes-for-sale","tag-huntington-tx-realtor","tag-lufkin-realtor","tag-real-estate-agent","tag-real-estate-trends","tag-realtor","tag-sellers-agent","tag-trust-the-pros","tag-trusted-local-agent","tag-trusted-realtor","tag-trusted-sellers-agent"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/329","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/194391"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=329"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/329\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":331,"href":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/329\/revisions\/331"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/330"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=329"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=329"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=329"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}