A Look Back at This Week in Southern Ohio Real Estate
Hey everyone, Bryan here. It’s been a full week, and I wanted to take a minute to recap what Rene and I have been sharing on the blog—in case you missed anything or just want the highlights in one place.
Home Inspections Matter More Than You Think
We kicked the week off talking about home inspections — specifically what buyers here in Southern Ohio need to know that folks in more suburban markets might not think about. Out here, many of our homes are on well water and septic systems, which need separate inspections beyond the standard one. If you’re buying acreage or outbuildings, make sure those get looked at too. I’ve seen buyers get tempted to waive an inspection just to make their offer stand out in a competitive situation — I get the instinct, but I’d steer you away from that every time. An inspection isn’t a formality. It’s information you deserve to have before you commit to the biggest purchase most people ever make.
What’s Really Happening With Highland County Prices
We also broke down the latest Highland County market numbers this week. The median sold price dropped 17% month over month, which sounds like a big deal on the surface — but when you look at the rest of the picture, inventory is still tight, homes are still moving at a healthy pace, and that price swing is more likely a reflection of which homes happened to close that month than any real shift in values. This is exactly the kind of nuance I think about constantly — numbers without context can be misleading, and I’d rather walk you through what’s actually going on than just hand you a headline.
Why We Build a “Coming Soon” Window Into Every Listing
If you’re thinking about selling, we do something with every listing: a coming soon campaign, 7 to 10 days before a home officially hits the market. It gives us time to get professional photos and, for our rural properties, drone footage done right, get a video tour ready, and start building buyer interest before day one. In my experience, homes that launch with some momentum already behind them just perform better than ones that show up cold with nothing built up beforehand.
The Honest Truth About Selling FSBO
We closed the week with a topic I feel strongly about — For Sale By Owner. I served eight years in the Marine Corps, and if there’s one thing that experience taught me, it’s that some jobs really do require training and expertise, even when they look simple from the outside. Real estate is one of those. The data backs this up too — only 5% of home sales last year were FSBO, an all-time low, and FSBO sellers typically net less than agent-assisted sellers, even after saving on commission. My philosophy has always been that I serve people; I don’t sell them — so even in that piece, my goal wasn’t to scare anyone away from FSBO, just to make sure sellers have the real numbers before they decide.
What’s Next
That’s the week in a nutshell. Rene and I appreciate everyone who reads along, shares these posts, or reaches out with questions — that’s genuinely what keeps us doing this. If anything above hit close to home, whether you’re buying, selling, or just starting to think about it, don’t hesitate to reach out.
📞 Call or text me: 937-776-3405 🌐 VanceTeamRealtors.com
Talk soon, Bryan