Think summer selling season is over? Not even close.
Many homeowners hit July and assume they missed their chance or worry they waited too long. Meanwhile, buyers are still active, searching, relocating, and trying to close before school schedules, fall routines, cooler weather, and holiday planning begin.
Homes that will sell this summer usually focus on strategy.
Pricing too high can stall momentum. Waiting too long can increase competition. Skipping staging can make buyers move on faster than you realize.
From creating stronger first impressions to protecting your price point, there are still opportunities to sell successfully this summer without feeling rushed or pressured.
If your goal is to move before fall arrives, now is the time to start preparing, not waiting.
Read our latest blog for summer selling strategies, staging tips, and ways to keep buyers interested before Halloween decorations hit the shelves.
Tips of the Trade
Building a home is one of the most exciting ways to create a space that truly reflects your lifestyle, preferences, and future plans. From selecting a floor plan to choosing finishes and navigating construction timelines, there are many decisions along the way. This month, we sat down with Billy Aaron, new home construction expert to answer some of the most common questions buyers have when considering a custom or newly built home.
What mistakes do buyers make most often during the building process?
Starting the process pushing the max budget. Give yourself room for changes, upgrades, and unexpected expenses.
How early should buyers involve a realtor when considering new construction?
From the very beginning. Having a realtor familiar with new construction is very beneficial, from choosing the right lot for the style of house you want to build, helping find the right builder, and having someone to guide you through the process.
What surprises buyers most about the building timeline?
The builder lays out the time frame, then when progress starts the homeowner begins thinking its moving faster than expected giving themselves a false hope. Different phases move a lot faster than other don’t assume and disappoint yourself communicate with your builder.
If someone is deciding between building new or buying existing, what factors should they consider?
Timeline and financing. It’s a lot easier to get a mortgage than to get a construction loan. You are going to have to have some money to build, where in a purchase, it can be done with very little out of pocket expense. And how fast do you want or need to move. You can put in an offer on a house and be in it in 30 days, where the build process will take the better part of a year.
What part of the building process creates the most stress, and how can homeowners prepare?
In my experience, number one is money. The second is design, while we all love or significant others it seems that taste and style very seldom are the same. Someone is always making a comprise. The old saying is: nothing will test your marriage like building your dream home together.
Selling While Still Living There: Realistic Tips for Busy Families
Selling a home while actively living in it sounds simple until real life gets involved.
Laundry piles up. Kids leave backpacks everywhere. Pets have schedules. Dinner still needs cooked. Work meetings happen. Sports practices fill evenings. Then a showing request appears with two hours notice.
Many homeowners believe their homes need to feel perfect every day to sell successfully. In reality, buyers understand people live in homes. The goal is creating systems that make preparation easier, not impossible.
Start by creating “show-ready zones.” Focus on the rooms buyers care about most: kitchens, living areas, primary bedrooms, and bathrooms. Prioritize keeping those spaces consistently cleaner while allowing less visible spaces to operate normally.
Temporary storage solutions can also save significant stress. Laundry baskets, decorative bins, and storage totes become valuable tools when quick cleanups are necessary. Having designated spaces for everyday clutter means fewer last-minute decisions.
Families with children often benefit from creating departure routines. Keep shoes organized near exits, prepare a small essentials bag for unexpected showings, and identify activities outside the house that make leaving easier.
Pets require planning too. Food bowls, litter boxes, crates, and pet toys can become distractions during showings. Having a simple checklist for pet-related items reduces stress when appointments are scheduled quickly.
Showing flexibility matters because buyer schedules often change. Evening appointments, weekends, and short notice requests may feel disruptive, but accessibility creates opportunity.
Most importantly, remember that selling while living in your home is temporary. Progress matters more than perfection. Buyers are searching for possibilities, not flawless lifestyles.
Creating routines, simplifying spaces, and preparing for unpredictability can make the process feel less overwhelming while helping buyers imagine themselves living there next.
A Fresh as It Gets
Spend the morning surrounded by fresh air, good energy, and the best local goods! Support local, eat fresh, and taste the difference your neighborhood has to offer!
Lee’s Summit, Missouri
You’ll find the Downtown Lee’s Summit Farmers Market at the new Green Street Market. Join us for local produce, baked goods, fresh flowers, local food trucks and more.
- When: 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays and Wednesdays from April to October
- Where: 209 SE Green Street, Lee’s Summit, MO
Lenexa, Kansas
Enjoy fresh produce, meat, flowers, body care products and more at the Lenexa Farmers Market. There are more new vendors monthly, plus the market is offering composting once a month.
- When: 8 a.m. to Noon Saturdays from late April through October; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays from late May through August
- Where: Lenexa Civic Campus, 17201 W. 87th St. Parkway, Lenexa, KS
Overland Park, Kansas
There’s a new home for the Overland Park Farmers Market! Vendors offer shoppers a wide variety of products, produce, florals, and local & specialty foods.
- When: 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays from April to September; 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays from April to September; 8 a.m. to Noon Saturdays from October to November; 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays from June to early September
- Where: 7950 Marty Street, Overland Park, KS
House Hunting Fatigue Is Real: How to Stay Focused During Your Search
House hunting often begins with excitement. Buyers create saved searches, tour open houses, scroll listings late at night, and imagine future routines in every kitchen and backyard they visit.
Then something shifts.
Weeks pass. Maybe months. Homes sell before you can make a decision. New listings feel repetitive. Priorities become less clear. Suddenly, searching feels exhausting instead of exciting.
Buyer fatigue is common, especially during summer when activity is high and timelines feel compressed. Recognizing it early can help you make smarter decisions and avoid expensive mistakes.
One of the biggest signs of house hunting fatigue is changing your priorities too often. Buyers sometimes start with clear goals but slowly expand their criteria after missing out on homes. A starter home becomes a forever home wish list. Budget expectations stretch. Commutes become negotiable. The result is often more confusion, not better options.
Revisit your must-haves regularly. Ask yourself what you truly need versus what would simply be nice to have. Bedrooms, location, budget, school districts, and commute times often matter more long term than cosmetic details.
Another common challenge is touring too many homes too quickly. After ten or fifteen showings, details blur together. Kitchens start looking identical. Buyers forget layouts and lose perspective.
Creating a simple ranking system can help. After each showing, score homes based on location, condition, layout, and overall feeling. The process keeps emotions from taking over.
It is also important to recognize when you need a short pause. Taking one weekend off from showings can create clarity. Burnout often leads buyers to either rush into decisions or walk away from good opportunities.
Buying a home is emotional because it is personal. Feeling tired during the process does not mean you are failing. It means you are human. Staying organized, revisiting priorities, and giving yourself permission to slow down can help make the search feel manageable again.
July Summer Maintenance
Summer Storm Prep: Protecting Your Home Before the Next Weather Shift
Summer storms rarely arrive with much warning. Heavy rain, wind, hail, humidity, and sudden temperature swings can put stress on homes quickly, especially during the hottest months of the year.
Preparing before severe weather arrives can help reduce damage, protect your property, and make recovery easier.
Start outside. Gutters and downspouts should direct water away from your home, not toward it. Clogged drainage systems increase the risk of water pooling near foundations and landscaping.
Trees deserve attention too. Overgrown branches hanging above roofs, fences, or vehicles create unnecessary risk during storms. Trimming vulnerable limbs now may help prevent larger problems later.
Outdoor furniture, grills, umbrellas, and decorations should also be evaluated. Strong winds can quickly turn lightweight items into hazards.
Inside the home, sump pumps, basement drains, and utility areas deserve attention. Testing equipment before storms arrive helps avoid unpleasant surprises during heavy rainfall.
Homeowners should also inspect weather stripping, window seals, and exterior caulking. Small gaps often become bigger issues when wind-driven rain enters vulnerable areas.
Storm preparation is not only about protecting your house. It is also about protecting routines. Having flashlights accessible, backup charging options available, and emergency supplies prepared reduces stress when weather changes unexpectedly.
A few hours of preparation in July may save days or weeks of frustration later in the season.
Question of the Month
This month, we asked the question that you’re wondering: What contingencies do you recommend including or limiting in an offer?
A contingency I would highly recommend to add to your offer would be your inspection period! This will uncover any defects in the home and will give you the opportunity to work with the seller on getting items repaired and/or reevaluate certain terms in of the contract.
The Unofficial Signs You’re a Homeowner in Summer
There should probably be a secret club for homeowners in summer.
Membership requirements would include sweating through yard work, multiple trips to the hardware store, and developing unexpectedly strong opinions about grass.
If you recognize yourself in these situations, welcome to the club.
You know exactly which room gets hottest every afternoon. Not because anyone told you. Because you have lived it. You strategically avoid that room between 3:00 and 5:00 PM and have probably considered blackout curtains at least once.
You suddenly care deeply about grass. You know where it grows faster, where it turns brown first, and which neighbors somehow maintain suspiciously perfect lawns.
Your hardware store visits multiply. You went in for mulch and somehow left with weather stripping, storage bins, bug spray, batteries, and something you are pretty sure you needed.
You own more extension cords than expected. Nobody remembers buying them. Yet somehow there are dozens.
Weekend projects multiply without permission. One small project becomes five additional projects. Repainting trim somehow turns into reorganizing the garage.
You become emotionally invested in weather forecasts. Rain is either a blessing or a disaster depending on what project you planned.
You suddenly understand why people discuss air conditioning so much.
Homeownership is rewarding, frustrating, expensive, funny, and occasionally ridiculous. Summer simply makes all of it more obvious. What unofficial sign would you add to the list?
Parade of Homes
Land of the free and the brave to enjoy one another’s company and share in the moments of rest and relaxation!
Creating Outdoor Spaces You'll Actually Use
Backyard Summer Checklist
- Pressure wash patios, sidewalks, and furniture
- Deep clean grills and prep cooking spaces
- Refresh planters and landscaping
- Test outdoor lighting after sunset
- Make spaces pet friendly and comfortable
- Create one area dedicated to relaxing
Summer has a funny way of reminding homeowners which outdoor spaces they love and which ones they accidentally ignored all winter.
Patios become gathering spots. Backyards become entertainment zones. Front porches become coffee spots. Suddenly outdoor spaces start working overtime.
The good news is creating an inviting outdoor space does not always require a renovation budget. Small improvements often create the biggest impact.
Start with what people notice first: cleanliness. Patio furniture, outdoor cushions, decks, and sidewalks collect months of dirt, pollen, and debris. Pressure washing surfaces and cleaning furniture instantly makes spaces feel refreshed.
Next comes functionality. Grilling stations, outdoor kitchens, and dining spaces tend to become summer headquarters. Check propane tanks, clean grill grates, inspect outdoor outlets, and make sure entertaining spaces actually function before guests arrive.
Plants also do more work than people realize. Fresh flowers, healthy landscaping, and colorful planters create energy around a home and make outdoor spaces feel intentional rather than forgotten.
Lighting often gets overlooked until evening arrives. Walk pathways at night and check what feels dark or unsafe. Replacing bulbs, adding solar lighting, or installing string lights can dramatically change how outdoor spaces feel.
Families with pets should also think about comfort and safety. Shaded areas, secure fencing, water access, and designated play spaces make outdoor areas easier for everyone to enjoy.
Most importantly, create one space specifically for relaxation. It does not have to be large. A small seating area, porch swing, hammock, or fire pit corner creates an invitation to actually use the space you worked hard to maintain.
Summer moves quickly. Creating spaces you enjoy now means spending less time wishing you had later.
Which House Matches Your Summer Personality?
Summer has a way of revealing what people really want from their homes.
Some people want quiet mornings by the water. Others want a backyard full of friends every weekend. Some dream of escape while others want convenience and activity.
Your summer personality might actually tell you more about your ideal home than square footage ever could.
Cozy Cabin Escapist
You prefer quiet evenings, comfort, and spaces that feel peaceful.
You probably want:
- Privacy
- Character-filled spaces
- Fireplaces or cozy corners
- Mature landscaping
- Smaller spaces with personality
You care less about trends and more about feeling at home.
Lake House Lover
Your perfect summer includes water views, slower mornings, and spending as much time outside as possible.
You probably value:
- Outdoor living space
- Scenic views
- Flexible gathering areas
- Storage for hobbies and recreation
- Homes that feel relaxing rather than formal
Your dream home features may include covered patios, large windows, acreage, or access to lakes and trails.
Backyard BBQ Host
You are the planner. The organizer. The one buying extra chairs because somehow everyone ends up at your house.
You likely prioritize:
- Open kitchens
- Large dining spaces
- Functional backyards
- Easy indoor-outdoor flow
- Plenty of parking
Your dream home is designed around gathering people together.
A Partnership with KC Pet Project
We believe finding your home should help another find theirs.
When you buy or sell with The Gresham Group, you’ll have six months after closing to adopt a pet and we’ll cover the adoption fee (up to a flat amount) through our partnership with KC Pet Project.
Not ready to adopt? We’ll make a donation on your behalf.
Because sometimes, a house doesn’t feel like home until everyone is there.
Client Testimonials
WORK WITH US
Buying and selling a house is an emotional process. Our agents are here to be your trusted advisor and lifelong friend. We’re dedicated to the people of Kansas and Missouri and believe everyone should be able to find home.
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