Susan Johnson Realtor

09/12/2026

What to Do When Your Home Has Been on the Market Longer Than Expected
Most sellers have a rough idea of how long they expect their home to take to sell. When that timeline stretches, it's easy to focus on the number of days the listing has been active.
The more useful question is why buyers haven't moved forward.
Sometimes the answer is price. Other times, the home is...

A slower-than-expected home sale may call for more than patience. Take a fresh look at price, presentation, feedback, and how the listing is reaching buyers.

09/11/2026

Ways to Repurpose an Underused Room
Some rooms slowly stop serving a real purpose. A formal dining room may only get used a few times a year. A spare bedroom may become a holding area for boxes and things that don't have another home. Even a finished basement or loft can end up sitting mostly empty.
That doesn't always mean the room needs...

An underused room doesn't have to stay that way. A few practical changes can turn extra space into something that works better for everyday life.

09/10/2026

What Buyers Should Know About Property Disclosure Forms
When you're buying a house, the disclosure form can be easy to skim past. It often arrives alongside other paperwork, but it can provide useful background on the property before you move further into the transaction.
What sellers must disclose varies by state, so the form isn't the same everywhere....

A property disclosure form can offer useful clues about a home's history and known issues. Buyers should know what the form can tell them, what it may leave out, and where an inspection still matters.

09/05/2026

How to Compare Mortgage Options Like a Pro
Shopping for a mortgage can be difficult, since lenders present the numbers in so many different ways, and it's easy to focus on whichever number stands out first. Knowing what to actually compare is what helps you save money.
Know That the Interest Rate Isn't the Whole Story
The interest rate quoted...

Shopping for a mortgage means comparing more than the interest rate. Here's what buyers should check before picking the right lender and loan for their needs.

09/04/2026

Setting a Price That Attracts Serious Buyers
Setting the right asking price can make a big difference in how buyers respond to a home once it hits the market. Price it with current conditions in mind, and you're more likely to attract serious interest early. Price it too high or too low, and the selling process can become more complicated than...

A fair asking price attracts serious buyers fast, while an unrealistic one can turn buyers away before they even see the home in person.

09/03/2026

What Buyers Should Know About Neighborhood Development Plans
When searching for real estate, don't forget that the property you're considering buying and the surrounding area may change dramatically over the years. Looking into future development plans can help you avoid surprises, such as buying near a major construction project or a new commercial development.
Where...

Before you buy, it helps to find out what's planned nearby. Development plans can shape your daily life and your home's future value, so it pays to check.

08/29/2026

08/27/2026

How to Deal With Low Offers and Keep Your Momentum
When a buyer makes a low offer, it's easy to feel as though you've lost ground already. After all, anyone who's listed a house for sale knows up front that not all offers will be as expected. However, it's important to put this into perspective: a low offer is merely the beginning of a negotiation, not...

A low offer isn't necessarily the end of the road for your home sale. Here's how to evaluate a low offer, negotiate, and move on to a sale with confidence.

08/21/2026

Can This Home Adapt to Your Future Needs?
When visiting a property, it's important to think beyond the upgrades and ask yourself if this floor plan will still suit your needs five, 10, even 20 years from now. Needs change with age, or when multigenerational families come together, or even if a loved one finds that stairs are just too much to...

Before you buy or sell, take a closer look at how well a home can adjust to changing needs, from mobility and growing families to flexible, adaptable living spaces.

08/20/2026

What to Repair Before Listing Your House
Making a home ready to be listed for sale isn't always a matter of large-scale improvements. It is, more often than not, a matter of a few key repairs that will make all the difference, while a handful of less important fixes will wait. Here's how to determine which is which.
Begin With What Turns Off...

Before listing, a few repairs can help you attract more buyers, get them to pay your asking price, and save you the headache of last-minute negotiations.