It might seem counter-intuitive to list your house in the winter months, but actually there are many reasons to list and sell your property during the winter:
1. We see a measurable increase in online traffic on our Real Estate website when the weather gets cold...it makes sense, people are inside, and they are looking at properties online. If you are thinking about selling your home anytime soon, yours should be one of them.
2. Transactions tend to run a little more smoothly in the winter months, when Realtors, Lenders and Title Company Reps are not as busy...your deal will have much more of their attention than it would get in the Spring, leading to less mistakes, faster closing times and more availability.
3. Buyers that throw on snow boots and a ski jacket to look at houses are not just messing around...they are the people that want to write an offer as soon as possible, and they are the ones that you want looking at your house.
4. Interest rates are still crazy low -- hanging out in the 4's, which is great....but those low rates can't stick around forever, and when they go up into the 5's next year, which the experts are predicting, then your purchasing power and that of your potential buyers will both be significantly lower.Read more here.
5. Relocation is a year-round process, and many employees find themselves being relocated even over the holidays...January is actually the biggest month for relocation! People who are being relocated to the Denver Metro area will often fly out for a day or two and write an offer on one of the houses that they see during that time. They don't have time to wait, even if the weather (or the house) isn't perfect.
6. If your home is really cozy, it will show even better in the winter...can you leave the gas fireplace on, furry blankets on the couch, scented pinecones or candles and create an environment that just makes people want to settle in front of the fireplace, and open their favorite book with a mug of hot chocolate? You should sell your house in the winter if so.
7. Does your house have great energy efficiency? Newer windows, roof and even insulation are great selling points in the winter. So are fireplaces, new furnaces and boilers, and updating lighting, as well as evergreen landscaping.
8. Working folksget more time off during the holiday season and have more time to look at houses...we always see a big increase in showings around Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year holidays. We also think that people might get extra-motivated to make a move in the winter because they are thinking about long-term goals and life changes.
9. Marketing effort - because we have fewer listings during the Winter, we are able to put more time and effort into marketing your property...this could mean that your agent has time for more open houses, bigger spots in print ads, and more marketing dollars to spend on things like postcard mailings and other marketing efforts. Of course, we always give each listing a full-throttle push, no matter what time of year, but we do love the focus that we are able to give our winter listings!
10. Buyers are sometimes more lenient in the Winter months....so it's easier to work out the ideal moving situation for you. Want to sell now but then move after Christmas? Want to take your time looking for your next place but be in a better negotiating position without a contingency? Sell now and we can often negotiate a delayed possession or lease-back situation.
11. Some buyers are looking to make a purchase before the end of the year for tax purposes...your ideal buyer might be one of them, but they can't buy your house if you don't list until Spring!
12. It's easy to create curb appeal with holiday decor...think white twinkling lights, a tastefully decorated tree in the front window, a simple evergreen wreath and poinsettias.
If you are thinking about selling and want to find out what your home might be worth, would like to talk about the pros and cons of selling during the winter months, or have questions or concerns about the selling process...contact us. We don't take the winter off just because we sell real estate!
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