When you bought your home, did you consider how long you planned on living there? Have you been there longer than you planned, either because you still love where you are at or maybe because moving is a hassle? According to the National Association of Realtors, the average length of time in a home from 1985 to 2008 was 6 years (with only two data points differing from that “magic” 6). However, something changed in 2008, and the average length of time in a home started increasing…the average from then to now is almost 9 years. So what happened?

We’ll “fall back” Sunday Nov 6th this year. This little extra sunlight in the morning comes at a cost…evenings get dark earlier. But never fear, your trusted Realtor with a flashlight is here! Just because it’s dark outside doesn’t mean that people aren’t still out house hunting. Buyers in Pierce County and surrounding areas are still out looking at homes during the day, after work, and on the weekends, just like the rest of the year. What does this mean for sellers? Turn your porch light on, keep walkways free of leaves (which can become slippery in our oh so wet weather), and take comfort in knowing that although there may be fewer buyers looking this time of year, the ones that are looking are committed to finding a place to buy.

You’ve probably seen articles about what home renovations get the most bang for the buck. If not, here's a handy table. But what about those of us that are less handy, or less inclined to do a big remodel? There are still plenty of ways to spruce up your house without breaking the bank.

It’s time to sell your house. You’ve weighed the pros and cons and come to this big decision. But now you have to pick a real estate agent. “Wait!” you say. “I’ve gone on Zillow, it says my house is worth x amount of money. I’ll just put a sign in my yard and sell it myself. No need to pay a real estate agent when I can do it myself”. Did you know sellers actually net MORE money when they use a real estate agent? The National Association of Realtors does a comprehensive review of trends in buying and selling every year. Nine percent of buyers purchase a home from a sign in the yard, while 77% of buyers come from real estate agents and internet.