Dreary Weather Doesn’t Mean Dreary Sales
Life tends to go on despite the weather and it doesn’t stop buyers from pursuing homes in the market. As Realtor Dave Engal points out,
“Buyers know a good deal when they see it, and they’ll pounce on one in the winter if the price is right,” Engel says. “Don’t fall into the trap of thinking the market is dead because open house activity and closings are down. Buyers are online every day of the year.”
Selling your home in the winter is not considered ideal by most Real Estate agents, but some new thoughts are emerging causing second thoughts on a consistent trend of waiting until spring to count on selling your home.
“The general school of thought — and it most often proves to be correct — is that listing your home in the spring market will reap the biggest benefit,” says salesperson Brad Malow of Douglas Elliman in New York, NY. “But late winter may actually be a prime time for coming to market as well.”
A Higher Listing Price.
According to statistics gathered by Trulia.com, homes actually sell at a slightly higher price in winter.
This is credited to a few factors. “For starters, your real estate agent is going to be more adamant about pricing the property just right out of fear the home will languish on the market until spring. (If a property price reflects both the current market and the surrounding neighborhood, that home is more likely to go under agreement at a favorable price.) Motivated buyers might also submit a price that’s too good to refuse. Finally, a fear of rising mortgage rates — rates tend to go up in the spring — might cause a buyer to be more willing to pay a higher price upfront.”
The Weather Is No Excuse.
All the fundamentals of Real Estate still apply in the winter. The cold and rainy weather can make it hard to stay motivated, but we should be careful to avoid “the winter blahs” as Jamie Wiebe from Realtor.com puts it.
Presentation is just as important in the winter as it is in the spring. While we don’t have to worry about shoveling snow off the driveway or sidewalks, the following tips should be considered.
If you’re not in your home, you still keep the heat on, making it comfortable and inviting.
You might also want to add some current winter photos to your listing in addition to the spring photos. “Nothing says ‘old, tired listing’ more than the photo you took nine months ago,” Engel says.
Watch out for scuffs, fingerprints and smudges on the windows. With the trees having shed their leaves, more direct sunlight shines through and exposes them.
