If you are ready to sell your home, you don’t need to wait until springtime. Winter can be a great time to be a seller.
Why is winter a good time to sell your home?
There is less competition in the winter because many would-be sellers will wait until the spring. Additionally, you will find a better pool of buyers because serious buyers will outnumber those just looking but not 100% committed to purchasing.
December is the best winter month as we tend to see a spike in closings (see chart above). Buyers are looking for tax benefits and putting their year-end money to work. This December could be an excellent month as buyers look to take advantage of low-interest rates before the new year.
Here are four tips to get your home ready to sell this winter
Warm cozy and energy-efficient
Buyers want to know they will be comfortable in their new home. Keep a goldilocks temperature, not too hot and not too cold. Create a cozy environment that will appeal to a potential buyer. For example, if you have a gas fireplace, consider turning it on for showings.
If you have energy-efficient features that help insulate your home, such as windows, make sure buyers know.
Winter curb appeal
While most homes curb appeal tends to go to the wayside during the winter, you can make your home stand out by taking some simple curb appeal steps:
- Clean up any leaves and debris in the yard.
- Clean out the gutters.
- Plant winter colors in your flower beds, such as pansies
- Fill your outdoor planters with winter-friendly evergreen plants such as holly and junipers.
- If you have a hot tub, don’t hesitate to open it and showcase it when potential buyers come by.
Clean and well lit
Winter months can be a little dark and dreary at times. Keeping a clean, uncluttered, and well-lit space can go a long way in attracting buyers during this time of year.
Use lighting with natural light hues that give a bright but not harsh feeling. Likewise, make sure your outdoor lighting is on early in the evening to ensure the exterior and walkways are well lit for potential buyers.
Holiday decorations are good as long as they are tasteful and uncluttered. A good rule of thumb is that less is better than more.
Showcase other seasons
If you have a beautiful outdoor space and landscaping, it would be great to show buyers what this looks like in non-winter months. Have your agent put images on the listing.
Likewise, suppose you get great natural light in the spring and summer. In that case, your listing images are an excellent opportunity to showcase this.
Final thoughts
In conclusion, winter and December, in particular, can be an excellent time to sell a home. Make the proper preparations and use an agent who understands the local market and nuances of winter selling. You can come out ahead of the competition and get the price you want.
If you are interested in selling your home this winter, please contact me here; I would be happy to help you get the best price for your home.