Winter can be a challenging season to put your home on the market. Winter months bring darker days, cooler weather and fewer hours of warm sunshine. Any deciduous trees you may have will have lost their leaves, beautiful flowers will not be in bloom and the interior of your home may appear darker overall. As a result, advertising your home in winter can be unappealing, and prove slightly difficult. However, you can still make the most of selling in winter.
Even though winter is considered a slower period as bad weather discourages potential buyers from attending inspections and auctions, the shortfall in homes on the market may actually work in your favour. Since other sellers subscribe to the idea that winter is a bad time to sell, you have less competition, meaning real estate agents will spend more time with you, getting to know your wishes and hopefully finding the perfect buyer for your home. The increased availability of real estate agents may also enable you to have more home inspections to entice potential buyers to your home. Also, a potential buyer turning up to inspect your home on a freezing cold winter’s day usually indicates that they are motivated and willing to buy.
Selling your home in winter also gives potential buyers an opportunity to get a feel for your home and how comfortable or sustainable it is, particularly if you live in a harsh or cold climate. Potential buyers can check out whether the heating in your home is sufficient and whether it is properly insulated. It’s also a great opportunity to present your home in a different light. Heating and lighting can help show off how warm, cosy and inviting your home can be. Much of this ambience can also be re-created in photographs for listing. Alternatively, plan ahead and take photos of your home in spring or summer.
It’s absolutely possible to sell your home in winter – in fact, people look to buy homes at all times of the year. The most important thing for you to consider is not whether it is hot or cold outside, but rather your own personal circumstances and whether the market is in a good state. The end goal is always the highest sale price you can get.
If you have a question on the local real estate market, or should you spend money on a renovation of your home before you sell, or any information about a local area, just call me on 0274 951 536 I’m always on hand to answer your query.
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