Victory Home Team

For many homebuyers, especially families, a home is more than just square footage—it’s access to a great school district. That’s why summer is one of the busiest seasons for buyers looking to move before the new school year starts.

If your home is located in or near a top-rated school district, summer may be the best time to list.

School Zones Are a Top Priority for Families

Parents often search by school boundaries rather than ZIP codes. They want to secure enrollment in the fall, and they’re prepared to move quickly to make that happen. Homes in districts like Edina, Wayzata, Rosemount–Apple Valley–Eagan, and Minnetonka often attract more buyer interest in summer due to their strong reputations.

Listings in Great School Zones Can Sell Faster—and for More

Homes located in desirable districts often command a premium price. Families may stretch their budget or waive contingencies to secure a home in the right zone, especially if school is starting soon. These buyers are also more likely to make strong offers early, rather than waiting or negotiating hard.

How to Highlight School Districts in Your Listing

Make sure your listing includes school names and relevant district ratings. Mention proximity to schools, walkability, and access to school bus routes if applicable. These are major selling points in summer and can set your home apart from others on the market.

Victory Home Team knows how to position your home for the buyers who care most about education, and we’ll make sure those details stand out in your listing.

If your home is in a great school district, summer is your moment. Let’s make the most of it.

The summer real estate market in the Twin Cities is fast-paced, with more buyers actively searching and more listings hitting the market. While this creates opportunities, it also raises the stakes. A few small missteps can cost you time and money.

Here are three of the most common mistakes homeowners make when selling in summer—and how to avoid them.

Mistake #1: Overpricing Your Home

It’s tempting to aim high when buyer demand is strong. But pricing your home too far above market value can backfire quickly. Overpriced homes tend to sit longer on the market, leading to price drops and less negotiating power later on.

How to avoid it:
Work with an experienced local agent to analyze comparable home sales and set a competitive price. Strategic pricing often results in more showings and stronger offers.

Mistake #2: Ignoring Outdoor Presentation

In summer, your exterior is more visible and more important than ever. Buyers are judging your property before they even step inside. Overgrown grass, dead plants, or a cluttered porch can create a negative impression that’s hard to recover from.

How to avoid it:
Keep the lawn freshly mowed, flower beds maintained, and patios or decks clean and staged. Even small additions like potted flowers or a new doormat can elevate curb appeal.

Mistake #3: Letting the Home Overheat

No one wants to walk into a hot, stuffy house—especially after touring multiple homes in the summer heat. Buyers will move through too quickly or leave without noticing key features.

How to avoid it:
If your home has central air, keep it running at a comfortable level. If not, use portable fans or window units to circulate air. Also consider leaving a pitcher of ice water or light refreshments during open houses to enhance the experience.

Avoiding these simple mistakes can make a big difference in how your home is perceived—and how quickly it sells.

Need help preparing your home for a successful summer listing? Victory Home Team is here to help.

Minneapolis–St. Paul and its surrounding communities come alive during the summer, with festivals, farmers markets, art shows, parades, and community gatherings. While these events make our neighborhoods more vibrant, they can also impact your home sale, for better or worse.

Here’s how to use local events to your advantage when listing your home.

Use Community Events to Boost Visibility

When done right, timing your open house around a popular event can increase foot traffic and awareness. If your neighborhood is hosting a farmer’s market, art walk, or summer concert, it may be the perfect opportunity to draw in passersby who didn’t plan on touring a home but are curious once they see your sign.

Let Victory Home Team help coordinate your open house timing and marketing to align with nearby events.

Know When to Avoid Scheduling

Not all events are helpful. If your neighborhood is hosting a large street festival, parade, or a noisy gathering, it may make access difficult or distract from the viewing experience. In these cases, it’s better to avoid those dates for your open house or schedule private showings outside of peak hours.

Similarly, major regional events like the Minnesota State Fair can affect buyer availability, especially on weekends when traffic and crowds increase.

Market the Lifestyle, Not Just the Property

If your neighborhood is known for family-friendly events, summer fun, or walkability, lean into that when marketing your home. Highlight those qualities in your listing description and social media promotions. Buyers aren’t just buying a house—they’re buying a lifestyle.

Victory Home Team knows how to use local energy to support your sale while navigating around timing conflicts or distractions.

Let’s time your home sale for maximum visibility and impact this summer.

Pricing your home correctly is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when selling. In a competitive summer market like Minneapolis–St. Paul, the right price can generate strong interest, attract multiple offers, and lead to a faster sale. Price it too high, and you risk sitting on the market. Price it too low, and you leave money on the table.

Here’s what sellers should know about pricing in the summer—and how Victory Home Team can help you get it right.

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Summer Buyer Demand Is Strong, But So Is Competition

Summer is one of the busiest seasons for real estate in the Twin Cities. Many buyers are actively looking to close before fall, especially families aiming to settle before the new school year. This creates more demand, but it also means your home is competing with others that are staged, well-maintained, and similarly priced.

Pricing your home correctly from the start ensures you don’t get overlooked in a busy summer market.

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Look at Recent, Local Sales—Not Just Online Estimates

Online valuation tools often miss key details like renovations, lot size, or neighborhood shifts. A better approach is to look at recent comparable sales in your specific area. For example, pricing a home in Blaine may differ significantly from one in Edina or Prior Lake, even if they have similar square footage.

Victory Home Team provides a detailed Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) tailored to your home and neighborhood.

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Avoid Overpricing—Even in a Hot Market

It can be tempting to “test the market” with a high price during a busy season. But overpricing often leads to fewer showings, longer time on market, and ultimately price reductions. Buyers are more informed than ever, and most will skip homes they see as overpriced.

A well-priced home will attract more interest early, which is when your listing gets the most attention.

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Use Strategic Pricing, Not Just Round Numbers

Instead of listing your home at $500,000, consider $499,000 to fall into more search results and create a sense of value. Strategic pricing is about appealing to buyer psychology and making your listing more competitive compared to others in your price range.

This approach can also help you attract multiple offers and drive up the final sale price.

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Let the Market Work in Your Favor

Summer buyers are often serious and ready to make quick decisions. If your home is priced right, shows well, and is marketed effectively, you’re more likely to get a strong offer, sometimes within days of listing.

Victory Home Team’s local expertise means we know exactly how to position your home for summer success.

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Need Help Pricing Your Home This Summer?

Whether you’re selling in Minneapolis, St. Paul, or any of the surrounding suburbs, Victory Home Team is here to help you price, market, and sell with confidence. Let us show you what your home is worth with a free custom home valuation. Let’s get started today.

When the summer market is moving fast, preparation is everything. Buyers in Minneapolis–St. Paul are actively searching, and many are ready to make quick decisions. If you want to take advantage of that momentum, your home needs to be market-ready from day one.

Here’s how to prepare for a fast summer sale.

Focus on First Impressions

Clean up landscaping, pressure wash walkways, and make sure the front entrance is welcoming. First impressions matter.

Declutter and Deep Clean

Buyers want to walk into a space that feels move-in ready. Clear countertops, closets, and cabinets. Clean every surface, including baseboards and windows.

Handle Minor Repairs

Fix dripping faucets, squeaky doors, and chipped paint. Small details can make buyers question how well the home has been maintained.

Stage Strategically

Stage to show off the home’s best features—open floor plans, natural light, and outdoor spaces. Keep decor minimal but warm.

Partner with a Local Expert

Victory Home Team understands what local buyers want and how to price your home to sell quickly without leaving money on the table.

Get ready now and you could be closing before the end of summer.

Summer is prime time for both travel and home sales. So what happens when your schedule overlaps with your plan to list your home? The good news is, you don’t have to choose one or the other. With the right planning and support, you can confidently sell your home while you’re away—without disrupting your vacation plans.

Here’s how to prepare for a smooth and successful remote home sale.

Prepare Your Home Before You Leave

The key to selling while you’re gone is having everything ready before you travel. Deep clean your home, declutter every room, and stage key living areas. Make necessary repairs and ensure curb appeal is sharp. Buyers need to see your home as move-in ready the moment they walk through the door.

Set thermostats to a comfortable level, replace any burned-out bulbs, and double-check that all interior and exterior areas are clean and accessible.

Keep the Property Safe and Show-Ready

A vacant home can still feel welcoming if it’s well-maintained. Arrange for lawn care, regular watering of plants, and garbage removal. If possible, have a trusted neighbor or professional check in on the property every few days to make sure everything is in order.

Also consider investing in smart home tools. Remote security cameras, smart locks, and thermostats can help you manage the property while you’re away and provide peace of mind.

Stay Available for Key Decisions

Selling your home involves paperwork, approvals, and negotiations—sometimes on short notice. Let your listing agent know your travel schedule in advance, and make sure you’re reachable by phone or email. You can sign documents electronically, so being physically present isn’t a requirement for closing deals.

Victory Home Team will handle every step of the process and keep you updated on buyer interest, offers, and next steps.

Trust Your Local Agent

When you’re away, the right listing partner becomes your boots on the ground. From managing showings and open houses to fielding questions from buyers’ agents, Victory Home Team ensures your home is actively marketed, carefully presented, and professionally managed.

Going on vacation doesn’t mean putting your home sale on hold. With preparation and guidance, you can enjoy your time away while we handle the heavy lifting.

Let us help you list and sell—no matter where your summer takes you.

Selling your home in the summer? Good staging can make the difference between a quick sale and a property that lingers on the market. In a season where buyers are actively touring homes throughout Minneapolis, St. Paul, and surrounding areas, making your space feel fresh, bright, and move-in ready is key.

Here are five practical summer staging tips to help your home stand out.

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1. Emphasize Natural Light

Open the blinds, pull back the curtains, and let the sunshine in. Summer is all about light and brightness, and your home should reflect that. Clean your windows inside and out to make sure natural light flows freely throughout the home.

Consider swapping out heavy drapes for sheer panels to keep things feeling open and airy.

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2. Add Light, Seasonal Accents

Simple, inexpensive changes can make a big impression. Replace dark throw pillows and blankets with lighter, summer-toned fabrics. Add fresh flowers, a bowl of lemons in the kitchen, or crisp white linens in the bedrooms.

Stick with a neutral palette accented by soft blues, greens, or yellows to create a calm and inviting feel.

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3. Maximize Outdoor Spaces

Outdoor living is a major selling point in the summer. Stage patios, decks, porches, or balconies to show buyers how they can enjoy the space. Add a small bistro table, an outdoor rug, or string lights to make it feel like an extension of the home.

If you have a backyard, mow regularly, trim hedges, and keep it free of clutter.

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4. Keep It Cool and Comfortable

Make sure your home feels comfortable when buyers walk in. Keep the air conditioning at a reasonable level during showings. If you don’t have central air, consider using fans to circulate air and keep rooms feeling fresh.

A hot or stuffy home can quickly turn off potential buyers.

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5. Declutter and Deep Clean

Summer staging still follows the same golden rule: less is more. Clear off countertops, simplify decor, and remove personal items so buyers can imagine themselves living in the space.

Give extra attention to cleaning. Dust, vacuum, and scrub every corner, especially in high-traffic areas like kitchens and bathrooms.

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Selling This Summer? Victory Home Team Can Help

If you’re preparing to sell your home in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area, our team can help you get market-ready with expert guidance and local insight. We’ll provide personalized staging advice, pricing strategies, and professional marketing to help your home shine in the summer market.

Reach out today for a free consultation.

If you’ve been thinking about selling your home, summer is one of the best times to do it. In the Minneapolis–St. Paul area, the warm months bring a perfect mix of motivated buyers, longer days, and strong market conditions. Whether you’re in Woodbury, Lakeville, Eagan, or Maple Grove, summer gives you a great opportunity to sell your home quickly and at a strong price.

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1. More Buyers Are Actively Looking

Summer is the peak season for real estate activity. With school out and vacation time in full swing, many buyers are focused on finding a home and settling in before fall. This is especially true for families looking to move into specific school districts before the new year begins.

What this means for sellers: Your home is likely to attract more interest and possibly multiple offers.

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2. Homes Show Better in the Summer

Natural light, blooming gardens, and clean landscaping all help your home look its best. Outdoor features like patios, decks, and pools become major selling points during the summer months.

To take advantage of this, make sure your lawn is freshly cut, flowerbeds are tidy, and outdoor furniture is clean and inviting.

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3. Summer Often Brings Higher Sale Prices

Historically, home prices tend to peak in the summer months. The combination of high demand and low inventory often results in stronger offers. If you’ve made updates or improvements, you may be able to maximize your return with the right pricing strategy.

Victory Home Team can help you analyze the local market and determine the best list price for your home.

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4. Longer Days Mean More Flexibility

With more daylight hours, buyers can tour homes after work or later into the evening. This added flexibility makes it easier for your home to be shown and viewed by a larger number of potential buyers.

It also allows you to schedule open houses or private showings without squeezing everything into a short window.

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5. Easier to Prepare Your Home for Sale

Summer is the best time to handle any exterior repairs, touch-ups, or upgrades. Painting, power washing, and landscaping are much easier to complete during the warmer months. A well-maintained home stands out and gives buyers fewer reasons to negotiate on price.

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Start Your Summer Sale With Victory Home Team

If you’re thinking about selling in Minneapolis, St. Paul, or the surrounding suburbs, Victory Home Team is here to help. From pricing to marketing to closing, we’ll walk you through the entire process and help you make the most of the summer market.

Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and get started on your home selling journey.

A well-planned open house can generate buzz, draw in motivated buyers, and even lead to multiple offers. Summer is an ideal time to host one in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area thanks to warmer weather, longer daylight hours, and a high volume of active house hunters.

Here are some effective tips to help you host a standout open house this summer.

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1. Choose the Right Day and Time

Timing is everything. Weekends are popular for open houses, especially Saturday mornings or early Sunday afternoons. In the summer, consider extending your open house into the early evening to take advantage of longer daylight hours and cooler temperatures.

Avoid major holidays or busy local event times when potential buyers may be out of town or unavailable.

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2. Create a Cool and Comfortable Atmosphere

Minnesota summers can get hot, and buyers will appreciate a home that feels refreshing. Make sure your air conditioning or fans are running and keep the interior temperature comfortable. A warm or stuffy house can quickly turn off visitors.

Also consider offering cold bottled water or light refreshments such as lemonade or iced tea. These small touches create a welcoming feel and encourage people to stay longer.

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3. Let the Light In

Before the open house, open all blinds and curtains to let in as much natural light as possible. Replace any burnt-out bulbs and consider adding lamps in darker corners. A bright home feels more spacious, clean, and inviting.

Pair natural light with fresh scents by lightly diffusing citrus or vanilla or placing fresh flowers throughout the home.

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4. Stage Your Outdoor Spaces

Summer is the perfect time to showcase your backyard, porch, or patio. Set up a table with chairs, place a few potted plants, or hang string lights to create a relaxed outdoor vibe. Mow the lawn, trim shrubs, and tidy up any garden beds so buyers see your yard as an extension of your living space.

If you have a grill or fire pit, highlight those features to suggest easy summer entertaining.

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5. Secure and Simplify

Make sure valuables, prescription medications, and sensitive paperwork are securely stored. Remove any clutter from countertops and entryways to keep the home looking clean and spacious. You want buyers to feel comfortable walking through and imagining themselves in the space.

Victory Home Team will help guide you through preparing your home and managing open house logistics so everything runs smoothly.

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Let Victory Home Team Help You Host a Summer Open House That Works

With strong local knowledge and a full marketing plan behind every listing, we know how to attract the right buyers and showcase your home at its best. If you’re thinking about selling this summer in Minneapolis, St. Paul, or the surrounding suburbs, let’s plan an open house that gets results.

Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.

First impressions matter, and in real estate, curb appeal can set the tone for the entire home tour. During the summer months in Minnesota, your home’s exterior is on full display. With more buyers actively touring homes across the Twin Cities and surrounding suburbs, boosting your curb appeal can make a huge difference in how quickly and successfully you sell.

Here are several proven curb appeal tips that work especially well during the summer.

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1. Refresh the Landscaping

Lush, well-maintained landscaping sends a message that your home has been cared for. Trim bushes, edge walkways, and keep your lawn regularly mowed and watered. Add fresh mulch to garden beds to give them a clean, polished look.

If you don’t have time for planting, potted flowers by the front door offer an easy and colorful alternative.

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2. Wash, Rinse, Repeat

Power washing your driveway, walkway, siding, and porch can instantly brighten up your home’s exterior. Minnesota winters leave behind dirt, salt, and grime that often go unnoticed. A simple rinse can help your home look newer and more inviting.

Don’t forget to clean the windows. Sparkling glass lets in more light and adds to the overall impression of cleanliness.

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3. Paint or Stain Touch-Ups

Peeling paint and faded trim can make your home look older than it is. A fresh coat of paint on the front door, shutters, or trim can dramatically improve visual appeal. For wood porches or decks, re-staining is a fast way to refresh worn surfaces.

Stick with neutral or classic colors that complement your home’s overall style.

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4. Create a Welcoming Entryway

Your front porch or stoop should be clean, simple, and welcoming. Replace worn doormats, polish hardware, and consider adding a seasonal wreath or a pair of matching planters. Make sure house numbers are clearly visible and in good condition.

If there’s space, a small bench or chair can also suggest a comfortable lifestyle and help buyers envision spending time outdoors.

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5. Exterior Lighting Matters

With longer daylight hours, summer showings often happen well into the evening. Make sure exterior lights are clean and functional. Solar-powered pathway lights can enhance visibility and create a warm, welcoming feel as buyers approach your home.

If you’re listing photos or virtual tours include evening shots, good lighting can make a lasting impression.

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Ready to Boost Your Home’s Summer Curb Appeal?

Victory Home Team works with sellers throughout Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the surrounding areas to get homes market-ready inside and out. From staging tips to professional photography, we’ll help you present your property in the best light—literally. Thinking about listing this summer? Let’s talk.