So you’re preparing your home for sale—and unfortunately, you have to do it in winter. It’s definitely not the ideal time for someone to sell their home, especially in the colder climates. But it doesn’t have to be stressful. We’ve got the seasonal home selling tips you’re looking for this winter in order to get your house sold. These four things have the potential to either make or break your sale.
A Generally Slower Market
The holidays combined with colder weather that makes people want to hunker down and stay inside has an effect on home sales in the winter. According to HomeLight’s Q4 agent survey, buyers thin out. Sixty-four percent of agents said that homes take longer to sell this time of year. But that doesn’t mean you need to cut your asking price. It may take a little bit longer, but homes generally sell for the same amount or more as in the warmer months—you just have to be a bit more patient.
Less Motivated Buyers
A common misconception with sellers is that wintertime buyers are desperate to make a purchase—otherwise, why would they be out in the cold looking at homes? But data actually shows that buyers are less motivated in the winter. People tend to put things off until warmer months, meaning that there’s not a pressing need for most buyers to get into a house immediately since schedules are generally looser.
Little Competition
Even though the market is slower and buyers aren’t in as big a hurry, you do have one big thing going for you: there’s very little competition from other properties in the wintertime. Almost 75 percent of top-selling agents agree that your for-sale sign could be the only one around for miles—which means that buyers are more likely to place an offer on your house because there’s just not that many other options for them to look at.
Home Maintenance Tasks
Wintertime has its own set of routine maintenance tasks that you need to be sure you do before putting your house on the market. That means getting your furnace checked, having your pipes winterized (especially if you aren’t going to be living in the home while it’s on the market), sealing up any drafts, getting the chimney swept, and watching out for any potential ice dams. You don’t want to get a sale ready to go and then end up losing it because an inspector discovers your furnace is dirty, on the outs, or a fire hazard.
Aside from all these things, you’ll want to be sure your home comes across as cozy, warm, and tastefully decorated. Take photos on a bright day with no snow and keep religious holiday knick-knacks to a minimum. Put out a boot tray for sloppy winter shoes and get to showing—you’ll have a buyer in no time, and probably for no less than you would sell your home in the summer.