by The Offer Company 
It’s that time of year again. The leaves are changing, the days are getting shorter, and the home buyers seem to have gone into hibernation. If you’re thinking about selling your home this year, you might be wondering if you should just wait until spring. After all, isn’t that when everyone starts house hunting?
Not so fast. While it’s true that the number of buyers does tend to pick up in the spring, there are actually a lot of reasons why winter can be a great time to sell your home. In fact, winter might just be the best-kept secret of the housing market. So before you make any decisions, here are a few things to think about.
1. Fewer houses on the market
I know what you’re thinking—if there are fewer buyers out looking, doesn’t that mean there are also fewer homes for sale? And you would be right. But here’s the thing: when there’s less competition, your house is more likely to stand out. And in a buyers’ market, like we’re currently in, that can be a big advantage.
2. More serious buyers
In the winter, the people who are out looking for houses are usually more serious about buying than those who are just browsing in the spring or summer. They’re not as easily distracted by things like nice weather or being able to go for a swim in their new backyard pool. So if someone is looking at homes in the middle of December, chances are they’re ready to make an offer.
3. Less foot traffic
One of the worst things about selling your home is having complete strangers come traipsing through your house at all hours of the day and night. If you’ve ever had an open house, you know what I’m talking about. In the winter, though, there tend to be fewer looky-loos—which means less wear and tear on your home and less stress for you!
4. More money in your pocket
This one might surprise you, but homes actually sell for slightly higher prices in winter than any other time of year—and in some cases, significantly higher prices. So if you’re worried about getting top dollar for your home, winter might be just the time to put it on the market.
5. A quicker closing timeline
If you’re planning on buying another home once yours has sold, one thing you’ll be happy to hear is that homes also tend to close faster in winter than at any other time of year. So if you’re worried about being stuck between two closings or dealing with a long gap between moving out and moving in, listing your home during the winter months might give you some peace of mind.
Conclusion
Winter might just be the best-kept secret of the housing market. So before you make any decisions about selling your home, take a minute to weigh the pros and cons of listing in winter versus waiting until spring. You might be surprised at how much more successful—and profitable—your experience can be! Good luck with your sale, and happy hibernating!
To discuss selling your home, please contact us at 602-448-7377
