When searching for a home most people have a list either that they have written down or is on their mind about what they want in their next “perfect” home. Most of the details like what the kitchen should look like, how many bedrooms and bathrooms, how many square feet, big yard or small, an extra living space, etc. are considered. What many people don’t put on their list is the roads around a home. These don’t really seem to be a deal-breaker if a home has everything on the list. A little known fact: roads can have a big impact on the sale of a home.

Roads that Negatively Impact Home Sales

Near an Intersection with a Traffic Light- traffic lights can be irritating when they shine into windows at night, but they are also an indicator of a significantly busy road.

Roads with Double Yellow Lines- These are a definite sign of higher traffic or roads that require more attention due to potential safety hazards.

Highways- highways are not just an eyesore, they are very noisy at all hours of the day. Dirt and Gravel Roads- Out in very rural areas this is not a problem as it is expected, but in areas close to towns a dirt road is a turn-off. Dirt roads keep your car constantly dirty with dust storms and puddles on rainy days. They also tend to have a good amount of potholes.

Dead Ends- We are not including cul-de-sacs in this category as they provide ample space to turn around. These are roads that just end and make it difficult to get around.

When shopping for homes it is a good idea to visit a home during several different times of the day to assess what the nearby roads are like. The traffic can differ during the day. The roads...

How “Coming Soon” Listings Work

Some homes have put up “coming soon” signs in their yards or have listed the home online as “coming soon.” This is simply to notice that the home is about to be an active listing on the MLS. This is a growing strategy in competitive sellers’ markets where the number of buyers outweighs the number of homes for sale. It is a strategy used by some real estate agents to help bring more attention and anticipation to their client’s homes. During this time a seller is usually preparing the home before officially releasing it for sale.

Many states do have regulations for this home selling strategy including how long a home can be posted as “coming soon.” This timeline is generally a couple of weeks.

Buyers can make an offer on a home listed as “coming soon,” but realtors are regulated on how they can promote the home.

Using “Coming Soon” To Your Advantage as a Buyer

If you see one of these listings and you really like the home it is a good idea to get a hold of your agent as soon as possible. The listing agent could have posted pictures to a private site and your agent can pull all the information on the home for you. They can even help you to determine the fair market value of the home and help you make a strong offer. This will prepare you to make an offer and get it in as soon as the listing goes live on the MLS.

Putting together a strong offer is important in any sellers’ market situation, especially with a coming soon listing. You do not want to overpay for the house, but you do not want to come in too low with your first offer...