Why Wait for Spring to Sell?
Why Wait for Spring to Sell?
Why Wait for Spring to Sell? (When you can sell in the winter instead!)
Everyone thinks that waiting until spring is the best time to list your home. I get the thought process on it, but it’s not necessarily true. People move year round. The truth of the matter is, if you’re ready to sell, anytime is a good time to list. There are always buyers, even in yucky cold weather. Check out these top reasons to list your property in the winter:
Serious Buyers– You may not have as many showings during the winter, but winter buyers are typically very serious. You have to really want to buy a house to get out in the frigid temps to house hunt! The beginning of the year is a busy month for job transfers and those clients have a short period to find a house. Even the people who aren’t out physically looking at property are online looking at listings and the listing that coaxes them outside for a showing might as well be yours!
Less Competition– Winter property inventory levels are up to 20% lower than spring levels, so there are fewer properties that you are competing with. Many property owners think that they should wait until spring to sell, so if you wait, you’ll be in competition with all the other spring sellers. However, the buyers looking now will be buying now, they won’t be waiting until spring. If you wait for warmer weather, you’ll miss the current buyers completely and have more competition with larger inventory.
Faster Closings – Winter is a traditionally slower time in the real estate industry. If you’re buying or selling during the winter, it’s good news. Many of the vendors such as title reps, surveyors, appraisers, inspectors and lenders aren’t as busy during the winter months, so you’ll receive faster service, which makes for a faster closing.
New Years Buyers—Buying a home is a big goal and for some, it is their new years resolution. The “New Years buyers” start looking in January so they can make their dream come true! If you are waiting for Spring, the New Year buyers may have already purchased and moved in.
There are upsides and downsides to selling anytime of year, but overall the downsides to listing in the winter months are minimal. Sure, it’s not the best time to show off your perfect grass or the pristine swimming pool, but there are so many benefits as well. If you’re ready to sell, the best time to do it is always right now—because you can’t sell it if it isn’t listed yet!
Lisa E. Priest is excited for the holidays but dreading the cold weather and is an East Texas Broker/REALTOR® with Picket Fence Realty, Inc. You can reach her via phone or text at 903-948-3343 or read more at BuyPalestine.com
