Sell Your Home This Winter
A couple months back we shared some tips to help you sell your home in the fall, and yes, fall really did go that fast! If you decided to wait, do not fret - there is still time to sell your home this season! The winter months are a perfect time to sell your home so you can be somewhere new by Spring.
Here are a few reasons and tips for selling your home this winter that explain why this may be the best time for you.
Less Competition
A huge benefit to selling your home during the winter is that there is generally less competition on the market. It is a general rule that the market is at it's height during the Spring and Summer months. What important to remember, however, is that the closing date is negotiable. That means that even if your home sells this winter, you may not close until Spring. Hopefully, giving you better weather on moving day and allowing you to get settled after the move for the warmer months.
Less competition on the market is also a benefit to you because buyers will not be overwhelmed by the abundance of choices that they see during the height months. The internet never sleeps, and those that are seriously thinking about buying will see your home for sale in their search.
Buyers are Motivated
One of the other wonderful things about selling a home in the winter is that most buyers are very motivated. Whether they didn't find their perfect home over the summer, or they just need to have a home to move into in the Spring, the traffic that comes to your home will be buyers that want to buy.
Keep in mind, that while buyers will be looking with less inventory and are motivated, it is still extremely important to make sure that your home is priced correctly. This will attract those motivated buyers and will help you sell your home more quickly.
The Holidays Prep You for Show Time
The Holidays are a time full of get togethers, parties, and decorating. If you host any events, or just enjoy being festive, it is likely that you will be doing some serious cleaning and decorating in the home. This is half the battle to getting your home ready for sale! By simply getting your home ready for these events, you have already helped create a cozy and clean atmosphere for potential buyers. These buyers will want to see how cozy the home feels when it's chilly outside.
In addition to having this built in prepping this season, winter is a great time to do some upkeep items in the home to help your house show better. Who really wants to be outside anyways?
Below, here are some tips from another great source we found:
Wash windows
Clean out cobwebs.
If necessary, re-caulk tubs, showers and sinks.
Polish chrome faucets and mirrors.
Clean out the refrigerator (you know it needs it anyway).
Vacuum daily. If your carpeting is plush, vacuum in one direction.
Wash or polish floors.
Dust furniture, ceiling fan blades and light fixtures.
Bleach dingy grout.
Empty trash and recycling bins.
These tips are sure to be an easy trick to make your home sparkle, not only for selling your home, but for all those visitors that come to stay with you this holiday season.
Yard Work? What Yard Work?
Another huge benefit to selling in the winter is that the yard work is minimal! Winter is the built in dormant season for nature so mowing the lawn, cleaning up shrubs, and planting flowers is not needed! It is also extremely likely that the whole yard will be covered in snow. Yes, there can be an upside to 3 feet of snow during Minnesota winters.
The most important thing that you will need to do is maintain your pathways and deck so they are cleared for a potential buyer. This does require a little effort, but it's great exercise after some holiday treats! The rest of the yard will have the gorgeous glisten of white snow - bonus points if you have lights outside to create a warm glow in the evening. Your home will look like a holiday card with little effort!
Remember - if have any questions about selling (or buying!) or if you need some help getting your home ready to sell, reach out to your Realtor! We are more than happy to help you make sure that you get the highest dollar for your home and make sure this is the right time for you.
Thanks for reading and Happy Holidays!