Why is listing a home in the fall/winter a benefit verses waiting until the spring/summer?
In every market a seller wants their home to stand out. During the fall and winter months, you have the best opportunity to get your home to stand out better with the serious buyers.
Only the serious buyers are looking in the fall/winter, so you will not have to deal with looky-loos tracking through your home. Those that come in to see your home are serious and ready to buy so you are more likely to get a contract as a result.
There is less to choose from so your odds of selling go up during this time of year At this time of year many people hesitate to put a home on the market bringing the inventory of competition lower. A lot of people don’t understand that the area will be blanketed with new listings after the holidays and an increased number of homes on the market without an equal increase in demand, can decrease prices again.
Fall is the time when everybody comes a little closer together. It's a little colder, the days are a little shorter and it's full of family gatherings and celebrations. The cozy feeling of entering a home on a winter’s day brings an emotional attraction to your home. This is complemented by holiday smells, cinnamon, cloves, vanilla, or pine are good ones. Make the best of the season by decorating using fireplaces, evergreens, and scented candles. Place natural aromas throughout your home for comforting and welcoming emotions you want to provide your buyers. You want the experience to be positive and memorable.
Homes that are sold at the end of the year often are sold closer to the asking price than other times of the year. Since many employment changes occur at the beginning of January, buyers often have an “urgency factor”. There are deadlines to close before January, so have less time to negotiate, they can’t wait to buy your home, and you get the best price. If you don't list until after the holidays, you might miss out on those buyers.
During the colder weather, people stay home. Buyers have flexible schedules and more days off, increasing the buyer traffic during business hours rather than weekends and evenings.
Work your showings around your schedule! It’s ok for you to have holiday events and to specify for "no showings" during certain times during the holidays.
You can’t sell your home if it is not available, for your perfect buyer. If you want to sell for the most money possible, now is the time!