People tend to think spring is the best time to sell a home as that’s typically when families go home shopping so they can settle in over the summer and prepare for the next school year. But if you’re willing to buck the trend and sell your home in the winter you might yourself handsomely rewarded.
Check out our top reasons for listing in the winter and see whether you can be a winter winner!
Less Competition
Seeing as spring is the most popular time to sell a home, it stands to reason that it will also be the most crowded market. More inventory means more competition, so prices tend to drop quicker due to supply and demand. In the winter, however, there are fewer homes for sale and therefore more buyers are competing for less inventory. This is good for sellers who are looking to sell their home quickly and for a good price.
Winter-Ready Appeal
Some houses show better in the winter. A home without lots of windows can seem dark and depressing in warmer months, but downright cozy in winter. Big fireplaces and hot tubs invite buyers to imagine basking in their warmth on a cold winter night. This sort of inspiration doesn’t happen during the summer months. It’s also an excellent time to show off a home’s ability to handle harsh weather like a south-facing driveway to speed up snow melting, how snow will fall off of a roof, a short driveway that will minimize shoveling or plowing, or heat tape on the north side of the roof to avoid snow accumulation.
Serious Buyers
During the warmer months, you’ll have to deal with more casual shoppers who just want to see what’s out there and aren’t too serious about making an offer. These window shoppers tend to be scarce when the weather turns. It’s not much fun trudging through the snow just to get a peek into a stranger’s home. Winter buyers are serious buyers who don’t want to wait until spring and risk losing out on a home.
Job Relocations
January is a big month for job relocations as companies tend to make personnel changes at the end or beginning of the year. People relocating for work are serious buyers who want to get settled quickly. Many of these buyers receive relocation benefits that can make negotiations that much easier.
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