Most Niagara real estate professionals agree that it’s best to sell a home during the warmer months of spring and summer. For one thing, home sellers and buyers with children often plan their house hunting and buying process for the summer months, when their children are out of school. And they make up a pretty big segment of the buyer pool.
Additionally, people are more active in the warmer months, so there’s generally more real estate activity during that time of year, giving you a better chance of selling your home.
But what if you can’t sell your home during the spring or summer? Maybe you need to sell it immediately for some reason, such as a job transfer that requires you to move during the winter months.
Whatever the reason, you need not worry. While there are certain challenges for home sellers during the winter real estate market, you can still be successful. In fact, if you follow the tips for selling your home provided below (and the advice of your Realtor®), you should be able to sell your home in the winter just about as easy as you could during the summer months.
Contrasting the Cold with Warmth.
Emotional factors play a big role in the home buying process. Granted, homebuyers are mostly concerned with the size of the home, the number of rooms, and other tangible items. But their “gut” feelings and first impressions go a long way as well. You can use this knowledge to your advantage, even in the coldest months of the year.
The best way to do this is by showcasing the warmth and coziness of your home. This will create a favourable first impression that potential buyers will carry with them throughout your house. Let’s look at an example of this concept in action.
Creating a Good First Impression.
Niagara homebuyers John and Jane visit your home while house hunting. It’s frigidly cold outside, with wind and rain added into the mix. It’s the kind of day that makes you want to hunker down someplace warm. The young couple open the front door and enter the home, and right away they feel welcomed.
The house is well lit and exudes warmth. Candles flicker atop the mantle. A fire crackles in the fireplace. The smell of gingerbread cookies (recently baked and presented on a glass plate) wafts through the air.
Doesn’t that just feel inviting? Well, that’s the effect it will have on potential buyers. By showcasing the warmth and comfort of your home, you have increased the likelihood of actually selling it. You’ve created a positive first impression by literally welcoming homebuyers in from the cold.
This is a combination of psychology and physiology, both of which can help home sellers during the winter market. The visitor’s physical first impression will be one of warmth and relaxation, right when they walk in the door. This will lead to a favorable mental impression as well, and the buyers will carry this with them through the rest of the home.
Be nice, shovel that ice.
You probably wouldn't try to sell your home in the spring or summer without sprucing up the yard and making sure the lawn was nicely trimmed and manicured would you? Well, selling your home during the winter is no different. Make sure any remaining leaves from fall are long gone, clean out the eaves etc. Also make sure the driveway and walking areas are always nicely shoveled after any snow fall. You want potential homebuyers to be able to easily access your home. The last thing you want them thinking is that if you couldn’t be bothered to shovel your driveway, or that you may be the type of owner that would miss other basic home maintenance.
Get the little things done.
During the winter real estate market, homebuyers will be a lot more dialed in to the core systems of the home. In summer people are often naturally drawn to the exterior, including lawn, garden etc. In the colder months they will definitely pay more attention to things like the furnace and windows. Do the little things. Get the furnace serviced, change the filter and get the ducts cleaned if it has been a while. Be sure to leave the service records out for any showings. Take a look at the windows and make sure they are all in decent shape. Make sure any caulking or sealing that has been neglected gets looked after.
Some people will tell you that selling a home during winter is very difficult. I say it depends on two things: (1) the amount of effort you put into it, and (2) the type of real estate market you are in. Use the tips provided in this article, while following the expert advice of your Realtor®, and you have every chance of selling your home during winter. Remember that although the pool of buyers is definitely smaller in the winter, so is the amount of competition you will face. Stand out from the crowd. Make your home the welcoming shelter from the harsh elements outside.
Thanks for reading.