Why Winter Is a Good Time to Sell Your Home
The fall and winter months have some distinct advantages when it comes to selling your home. For starters, you are less likely to have a lot of competition as most homeowners wait until the more popular spring and summer months to list their properties. Below are other reasons why winter is a perfect time to sell a home.
Higher Listing Prices
While it might seem counter intuitive, research shows that listing prices on average are higher during the winter months. Some reasons are that you have more motivated buyers out there, more listing agents who price properties correctly, and more buyers who fear interest rates will rise in the spring.
Say No to Landscaping
When it comes to the all-important staging of the home to make it more appealing, one thing you do not have to worry about is landscaping. During the winter months, curb appeal becomes less of an issue. If you don’t have your landscaping in top shape, it is no longer the arduous and potentially costly task that it might have been. If there is snow, simply clear a path!
Tax Breaks
Winter home buyers might be motivated to get that tax break before the end of the year. Home buyers can write off some of the expenses of their home purchase, plus there are multiple tax benefits to owning a home that they can take advantage of as well.
Internet Searches Don’t Go Down
The majority of buyers use the internet to start their home search. The instant access to listings that it affords means that buyers are constantly on the lookout for homes. Once it would have meant less foot traffic in the winter, but with over 95% of home buyers now searching online, the colder months no longer have the same impact on home searches.
More Available Time for Buyers
While the holiday period can be hectic, many potential buyers have the majority of their vacation days booked for this season. Plus, having family and friends around means they can help guide their decision.
More Serious Buyers
If a buyer is choosing to go the non-traditional route to look at homes, he or she is likely to be more serious about making a home purchase. Many winter buyers are working against a deadline such as a relocation, expiring leases or a contract on their current home. Typically, one of the biggest months for corporate relocation is January, meaning that those buyers have a limited time to get their families moved.
Savvy homeowners know that winter is a perfect time to list their property. A final advantage is that your preferred moving company will have more availability. And those that are highly experienced will know how to move during bad weather.
