Check out these benefits of selling your property in the winter months
Some people adore winter and all the warm and cozy images and experiences it brings (i.e., lighting candles, listening to the crackling of logs in the fireplace, snuggling under a fuzzy blanket, watching the magic of snow falling outside your window).
But not everyone looks forward to the months of fewer hours of sunlight, falling temperatures, and not as many outdoor activities.
We don’t experience blizzards and frozen pipes as often as other parts of the country. But we do still have our share of cold weather and occasional winter storms in the North Texas region.
So you may have fallen for the misconception that fewer houses sell in the frigid months.
While selling a home in the spring is most common, don’t let the shorter days and longer nights trick you into thinking that no one is interested in buying a house in the winter.
It may have been based on old ways of thinking or actual trends from years ago, but thinking that homes won’t sell in the colder months is now a myth.
In fact, selling in the frostier months could be the perfect time for you to put your house on the market. There are many reasons a January, February, or early March sale is more promising than you may have thought!
Check out these reasons for putting your house on the market in wintertime:
A Fresh Start
The holidays have come and gone. The first of the year has been celebrated and commemorated. Goals and dreams boards have been designed, and some people are ready for a change.
It may be recent retirees who are looking to downsize. These more mature buyers may want to choose a new, smaller place to start their next stage of life. They are ready to create a more cozy environment for the hobbies and dreams they’ve been saving for these later years.
Or it may be brand new or soon-to-be parents with a desire and need to up-size. They are picturing images of little ones running through a more spacious house. And they’re looking for a backyard for a swing set.
The first of the year is also a popular time for relocation. And with the corporate migrations happening like they are right now to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, people are flocking to find a place to live here in our part of the country.
Financial Breathing Room
Year-end bonuses and performance reviews have been awarded and are enormous incentives for buyers to make the move to find a new place to live. The bank account is a little fatter, and dreams of moving to a new home are coming to the forefront of minds.
Since the holidays are over, the new year provides an avenue for making some important financial decisions, including buying a new home.
The buyer doesn’t want to have to wait until spring. They are ready now!
Not As Much Competition
Because there are fewer listings during the wintertime, there simply is not as much competition. So this benefits you. There aren’t as many houses to see or consider, so you have the upper hand.
The colder months tend to keep some people who are “just curious” from visiting your open house or making an appointment for a walkthrough. This means that those who attend the open house or the walkthrough are truly looking to buy. They are the serious prospects. They will make the effort to don coats, mittens, scarves, and snow boots to see if your house is the perfect one for them.
This is an ideal time to sell. Take advantage of being one of the few choices by listing your home in the first quarter of the year.
5 Tips for Closing a Winter Sale
1. Let there be light - Since wintertime is darker, you will want to provide a warm, well-lit home for the open house or walkthroughs.
Add more lamps or have your agent light candles throughout your home to provide a warm ambiance that helps the buyer imagine themselves living in your home.
Flowers also brighten and cheer up a shady or dark area. Have a simple, elegant bouquet placed in a spot that needs some softening or livening up.
2. Shovel the snow - If there is inclement weather, make sure you take care to shovel your sidewalks, patios or decks, and driveway.
Even though most people enjoy seeing the snow sparkling in the sunlight, they also want to see a clean home, and this includes the outdoors.
Not only does this look nicer, but it keeps it safer, as well. Putting ice melt on sidewalks helps keep things safe, too.
3. Keep a mat by the door - Whether it’s for the occasion of snow, ice or rain, keep a mat by the front door so that potential buyers can wipe their muddy shoes.
You can also have a well-placed sign that asks everyone to remove their shoes. This will show the buyers how much care you give to the floors, and in turn, the entire house.
Offering disposable slippers to wear while the clients are on their walkthrough is a thoughtful gesture.
4. Highlight the winter perks - If your home has a fireplace and/or a hot tub, this is the perfect season to show off those amenities.
It’s up to you and your real estate agent whether you actually have a fire blazing in the fireplace during the showing or not, but at the least, have logs and decorative long matches displayed.
And make sure the hot tub is sparkling clean so the buyers can envision how enjoyable it would be, even on a cold winter day.
5. Provide images of all seasons - You will want your real estate photographer to take current photos of the interior and exterior of your property.
Include seasonal photos of the exterior, as well, so buyers can imagine the property in spring, summer, and fall.
Don’t let these darker, more blustery days keep you from listing your property. The Dallas-Fort Worth area market is booming. Don’t miss out!
“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.”