I am getting this question many times. Should I try to sell my home during the winter? Are houses selling at this time of year?
My response to those questions is YES! Houses sell all year long and if you're serious about selling your home, it has a chance to sell in the winter, spring, summer, or fall. Yes, sometimes the buyer activity decreases over the winter, especially dependent on the weather. A snowstorm can truly reduce the number of showings you may have, but sometimes we see a nice weekend in February and home buying activity really picks up.
Here are some things to keep in mind when selling a home:
1. Your house won't sell if it isn't for sale. If you truly want to/need to sell, your home must be on the market. A home that isn't listed as available for sale won't sell. Regardless of whether buyer activity is down, your probability of selling will be ZERO if your house is not for sale.
2. Home Buyers who are looking in the winter are typically more serious buyers. Who likes to get out in freezing temperatures to have a look at houses simply for fun? The majority don't. So usually when you have a showing in the winter, the purchaser is seriously buying.
3. Inventory is usually less. Many people take their home off the market in the winter. Like I said, we could have less buyer activity, but the available houses for the active buyers to select from is less. That is far less competition for you as a seller.
4. Get a jump on spring home buyers. I believe February is a really good time to list a home. Take some down time after the holidays in January to clean, prep, and stage your home for sale. List your house in February, because you never know when the weather will break. When the weather breaks and the traditional increase in buyer activity happens, you need to have your home on the market. You do not need to start thinking about putting your home up when the weather gets better. You may have already missed out on a lot of buyers.
The important point to remember is that a well priced home that's prepared to sell has an opportunity to sell ANY time of year.
My response to those questions is YES! Houses sell all year long and if you're serious about selling your home, it has a chance to sell in the winter, spring, summer, or fall. Yes, sometimes the buyer activity decreases over the winter, especially dependent on the weather. A snowstorm can truly reduce the number of showings you may have, but sometimes we see a nice weekend in February and home buying activity really picks up.
Here are some things to keep in mind when selling a home:
1. Your house won't sell if it isn't for sale. If you truly want to/need to sell, your home must be on the market. A home that isn't listed as available for sale won't sell. Regardless of whether buyer activity is down, your probability of selling will be ZERO if your house is not for sale.
2. Home Buyers who are looking in the winter are typically more serious buyers. Who likes to get out in freezing temperatures to have a look at houses simply for fun? The majority don't. So usually when you have a showing in the winter, the purchaser is seriously buying.
3. Inventory is usually less. Many people take their home off the market in the winter. Like I said, we could have less buyer activity, but the available houses for the active buyers to select from is less. That is far less competition for you as a seller.
4. Get a jump on spring home buyers. I believe February is a really good time to list a home. Take some down time after the holidays in January to clean, prep, and stage your home for sale. List your house in February, because you never know when the weather will break. When the weather breaks and the traditional increase in buyer activity happens, you need to have your home on the market. You do not need to start thinking about putting your home up when the weather gets better. You may have already missed out on a lot of buyers.
The important point to remember is that a well priced home that's prepared to sell has an opportunity to sell ANY time of year.
About the Author:
If you are considering selling a home in Muncie, contact me for a free consultation. I'd be happy to come take a look at the home and give you ideas to help get it ready to sell. E-mail me at RHanna@REMAX.net, visit my website at www.MyMuncieHome.com or call/text me at 765-760-4556. I can also help you if you are thinking about buying a home and would be interested in looking at homes in Muncie that are for sale.
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