Can a house sell during the winter months?
I have been asked this question several times this time of year. Should I attempt to sell my home during the winter? Are properties selling at this time of year?
The answer to those questions is YES! Homes sell throughout the year and if you are serious about selling your house, it's got a chance to sell in the winter, spring, summer, or fall. Yes, occasionally the buyer activity goes down over the winter, particularly dependent on weather. A blizzard can really lessen the amount of showings you will have, but occasionally we get a beautiful weekend in February and buyer activity actually picks up.
Here are a few things to remember when selling a home:
1. Your home will not sell if it's not for sale. If you actually want to/need to sell, your house needs to be on the market. A home that's not listed as available for sale will not sell. Regardless of if buying activity is down, the probability of selling will be ZERO if your home is not for sale.
2. Buyers who are looking in the winter are generally more serious buyers. Who would like to get out in freezing temperatures to take a look at homes just for fun? Most people do not. So typically when you have a showing in the winter, the buyer 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 buyers. I think February is a great time to list a home. Take a few days after the holidays in January to clean, prep, and stage your house for sale. List your home in February, because you never can tell when the cold weather will break. When the weather breaks and the common increase in home buying activity begins, you want to have your property on the market. You do not want to begin thinking about putting your house up when the weather gets better. You could have already missed out on quite a few of buyers.
The main thing to remember is that a well priced home that's prepared to sell has an opportunity to sell ANY time of year.
The answer to those questions is YES! Homes sell throughout the year and if you are serious about selling your house, it's got a chance to sell in the winter, spring, summer, or fall. Yes, occasionally the buyer activity goes down over the winter, particularly dependent on weather. A blizzard can really lessen the amount of showings you will have, but occasionally we get a beautiful weekend in February and buyer activity actually picks up.
Here are a few things to remember when selling a home:
1. Your home will not sell if it's not for sale. If you actually want to/need to sell, your house needs to be on the market. A home that's not listed as available for sale will not sell. Regardless of if buying activity is down, the probability of selling will be ZERO if your home is not for sale.
2. Buyers who are looking in the winter are generally more serious buyers. Who would like to get out in freezing temperatures to take a look at homes just for fun? Most people do not. So typically when you have a showing in the winter, the buyer 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 buyers. I think February is a great time to list a home. Take a few days after the holidays in January to clean, prep, and stage your house for sale. List your home in February, because you never can tell when the cold weather will break. When the weather breaks and the common increase in home buying activity begins, you want to have your property on the market. You do not want to begin thinking about putting your house up when the weather gets better. You could have already missed out on quite a few of buyers.
The main thing 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 very 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, come visit my site at www.MyMuncieHome.com or call/text me at 765-760-4556. I can also help you if you are thinking about buying a house and would like to set up a time to look at homes in Muncie that are for sale.