Is Fall/Winter A Good Time To Sell Your Home
One of the most common question that home owners ask themselves when they put their home on the market is “Is it a good time to be selling my home?” This is a very common question for agents to be asked. There are pros and cons to when you choose to sell your home. That’s life. There are many factors that you should take into consideration before you decide to sell your home. Many homeowners are under the impression that selling in the fall or winter is a bad idea. They think that the only good time to sell is in the spring or summer. This could not be farther from the truth.
It is true that many markets experience a spring rush each year. There is definitely no disputing that the spring is a good time to sell your home or buy one. Don’t let that deter you from the fall and winter market. This season might be the best fit for you for a multitude of reasons.
Here are several reasons why choosing to sell your home now may be a better decision than waiting until the spring:
Less Competition
One of the easiest ways to tell if the spring market has set it, is by driving down your street. It is really likely that you will find multiple For Sale signs all up and down the neighborhood! One great reason to sell your home now instead of spring is that there is less competition! When there is less competition, there is a high likelihood that potential buyers will be looking at your home more. If there are less homes for sale, the less choices for a buyer, and an increase in demand for your home.
Serious Buyers
Homes are purchased and sold each day of the year, end of story. Many people believe that buyers aren’t out looking for homes in the winter months. That is not the case. Serious buyers (the buyer everyone wants) is out there. No matter what the season is. You don’t want to get into escrow with a buyer that is moving on a whim or isn’t serious.
Highly Motivated Agents
An agent that tells you that the fall and winter is a bad time to sell is not the agent for you! A great agent will be ready to adapt their tactics and style to accommodate any season, and probably already has systems in place for successful sales. A great agent can give you tips and make suggestions on how to sell a home in the fall. If the agent you’re interviewing doesn’t have any ideas that should be a red flag!
Staging
Many sellers believe that staging is the main reason a home sells. Staging is very important. We have our own blog about staging that you can read here. Staging certainly has its benefits, but some buyers have trouble seeing themselves in a home no matter what. On the flip side, there are buyers that are sold on a home when it’s staged. Seasonal staging can be very beneficial. These can be little things, even just changing an air freshener to a holiday scent. Having the décor and aroma of the holidays in the home can help a buyer see their own holiday traditions when they own the home.
Quicker Transactions
Right now there are fewer transactions than there are in the spring. The lesser number of transactions means that there are less loans for lenders to process. Home inspectors have less inspections to do and good agents are readily available. All of these factors should point towards a faster transaction for all parties involved. One of the most frustrating things for a seller is dealing with a delayed closing while they’re trying to move. A quicker transaction means less stress for everyone!
