Most people dread the thought of selling their home. You have to get a realtor, clean and declutter, get things fixed, and let strangers come in and out at all times of the day. Now, imagine doing all of that in the dead of a Midwest winter. Sounds kinda awful, right? Actually, there are 5 good reasons why winter is the perfect time to sell your home.
Low Inventory Helps Sell Home
Spring is the most popular time for putting your house on the market, which means that there will be a lot of houses for buyers to choose from. Far fewer people want to try to sell a home when there’s snow on the ground, but there will always be buyers—no matter the season. Realtors know this and will be more likely to point buyers in your direction in the winter. (Ninety-eight percent of buyers trust their realtors to steer them in the right direction.) So, with fewer homes to choose from in the colder months, you will be more likely to sell your home quickly.
Serious Buyers Helps Sell Home
We all know that people like to house shop on a nice spring day or a sunny weekend morning. However, you might not be getting the serious buyers through your home when the weather’s agreeable. For some, open houses are a happy pastime. Only buyers who are intent on finding a home are going out in a blizzard or when it’s -10 degrees out. Selling your home will be easier when you have serious buyers coming through.
Year-End Bonuses and Holiday Money Helps Sell Home
The end of 2019 and the holidays mean that a lot of people may have received year-end bonuses, retiree payouts, or cash presents. That makes it the perfect time for those buyers who couldn’t afford to move before to start looking now. The extra money also makes it possible for first-time buyers to get into their first home—and many don’t want to wait until spring.
Urgent Need Helps Sell Home
Like the serious buyers, those who have an urgent need for a new home tend to appear in January and February when businesses begin relocating employees. Buyers have a limited amount of time to find a new home, sell their old one, and get the kids enrolled in a new school. These buyers tend to be less picky and want to get settled as soon as they can, which makes them more likely to buy your home in winter.
Highlighted Features Help Sell Home
Winter is the perfect time to show off all of the features your home has to offer and how well it performs when put to the test. Fireplaces, soaker tubs, and heated floors will warm buyers right up. That new roof, insulation, windows, or furnace will be able to prove their efficiency. Waterproofed your basement recently? Buyers will be able to see that it’s dry. Many will appreciate these things that can only be attested to during the warmer months.
While trying to sell a home in the winter may sound like a challenge, it can actually be to your advantage. With low inventory, more serious buyers, and weather that will highlight your home’s hard working features, winter can be the perfect time to post that “For Sale” sign in your front yard—just be sure to dig it out of the snow once in a while for potential buyers to see!