When you dream about winter, it usually involves sipping soup near the fire while the rain is pelting down outside in the chilly air.
It’s also when a lot of people escape overseas on holiday to warmer climates. For the real-estate market, however, winter might be a perfect time to sell your home. Despite the cooler temperatures, countless owners have successfully listed and sold their properties during the winter season. In recent years we have had some of our most successful sales months in May/June/July. Here’s why:
No Holiday Breaks
Summer and Autumn is littered with long weekends sending buyers off on holidays and making the most of the warm weather. Now that the long weekends are behind us, it is a much more convenient time for potential buyers to attend your open home. The quieter months usually have little to no distractions, along with scheduling conflicts.
Fewer Listings – Less Competition
Winter usually sees fewer home and property listings as well. In fact, the real-estate market and industry normally “cools” off during the cooler months. This does not mean, however, that there will be lack of potential buyers and investors. It simply means you will have less competition to deal with. With less competition, you get higher visibility and can effectively attract and engage potential buyers. You might also garner interest from buyers looking for properties that meet their needs within time and budget.
Actual Buyers
Listing your home during the off-season usually brings in actual interested buyers. Unlike the peak seasons, you’ll have fewer tire-kickers to worry about (though you might still get the occasional nosy-neighbour). Those are the individuals who simply tour open homes, without any real intention of buying or investing in them. For sellers, this is a pure waste of time, and it takes away from potential buyers who are genuinely interested in your property. Real buyers understand the current market trends, and are seriously interested in purchasing homes for concrete reasons.
Create Ambiance
Picture this: It’s cold, pouring with rain, and there is a potential buyer getting saturated as they make their way from their car to the front door of your open home. Dripping wet, they open the door and they are greeted with a warm, cozy, ambient home that instantly invites them inside. They immediately feel at home. Tapping into a buyers emotions is an enormous advantage, often difficult to do in those hotter months when open homes are more hustle and bustle.
Ensure your home is welcoming by opening all the curtains and pre-heat your home with heaters or have your fireplace going. Even better if you have done some home baking or ground fresh coffee that morning, it will leave a comforting aroma. The more time a buyer spends in your home, the more they can imagine themselves living there.
For more information on putting your house on the market, simply contact us today and we will get the ball rolling.
