49 days, but those homes that are priced right and well-prepared for showings sell much more quickly — often in only one or two days.

“The average is brought up by the sellers who just don’t understand that they need to paint their home interior in neutral colors, declutter it and let us help them stage it for showings. You don’t want prospective buyers going through and mentally deducting money for painting, new carpet and other improvements. Instead, you want them to be walking through and picturing their furniture in the home,” he says.

Seaverns and his team give each seller a checklist of adjustments they need to make before listing and those who follow their suggestions sell quickly, he says. “Television shows like HGTV have raised buyers’ expectations. They are much more discriminating than they were in the past and the young buyers generally want everything move-in ready.”

The more expensive homes are still recovering, but the move-up phenomenon sparked by first-time buyers finally entering the market should reach them, too.

“A little more time is needed for that, however,” Seaverns said. “I am very encouraged by our huge fourth quarter in 2016 and equally big first quarter in 2017. The economy is absolutely turning around at last.”

Seaverns can be reached at (847) 353-7606, (847) 962-5659 or online at www. georgeseaverns.com.