Chances are, you’ve heard that the best time to list your home for sale is the spring. And while there is a lot to be said about selling your home in the spring (or even summer or fall), there are many benefits to selling your home right now – in the winter! Believe it or not, this could actually be the right time for you to sell.
If you choose to do so, follow these ideas for making the most out of your winter listing.
Price it right.
There might be a smaller pool of prospective buyers in the winter, but you’ll find that the pool is extremely motivated to buy. Someone looking to buy a home during the holidays or middle of winter has a compelling reason to do so and will be ready to move quickly. This makes your pricing strategy critical. Discuss a strategy with your real estate agent to arrive at a price that factors in and attracts fewer, but more serious, buyers.
Make accessibility a priority.
If snow and ice is a factor for you in winter, you will need to be diligent about removal. Make sure driveways and walkways are always clear of treacherous ice. Invest in a plow service and stay stocked up on sidewalk salt.
Keep things warm.
Nothing will turn buyers off faster in winter than walking into a cold house, so make sure your heating system is operating at full capacity. And make sure that’s the case for every room in the house. If there’s one bedroom that tends to be drafty, now’s the time to find out the cause and resolve the issue.
Provide visuals of your
home in summer.
One major thing a buyer might not be able to get an accurate picture of in winter is your outdoor space. Provide photos online and in person to prospective buyers that include shots of your backyard, patio, pool, garden, yard, etc., all looking their best in the summer. Your agent could also prepare a slideshow to play at an open house. Doing so gives a buyer a better idea of the home in all seasons and could really seal the deal for winter-time buyers.
Pay attention to holiday decor.
A few tasteful and neutral holiday decorations such as glowing white lights, fragrant evergreens and elegant metallic touches can really make your home glow and sparkle. But remember that less is always more – you don’t want to try and sell your home while it’s part of a Tacky Light Tour. And be sure to pack up those decorations as soon as the holidays have passed. Marketing your home with holiday lights on in the middle of January will not play in your favor.
With the help of these tips and your trusted real estate agent, the market for your house will be hot, unlike the weather outside.
