So you’ve decided that it’s time for a change. Maybe you really want that extra home office, or maybe you’ve been craving a country lot after years in the city. For whatever the reason, it’s time to sell your house - so you should wait for spring to roll around, right? Everyone knows that spring and summer is when people move, correct? Well, not necessarily.
In all actuality, there are some very convincing reasons to list during the winter months. While it remains true that more homes are bought and sold during the warmer months of the year, owners should never completely write-off a winter listing. According to the National Association of Realtors, 1.086 million homes were sold last winter, between December 2019 and February 2020. During the warmer months of 2020 there were approximately 1.5 million homes sold. So yes, more homes sell during the summer months. But the statistic of one million homes being sold during the winter months tells us that it is definitely still happening.
So, what are the benefits of listing now?
1. Serious Buyers
Buyers looking during the winter months are serious about finding a home. That means that their financing is in place, they know what they want, and they are highly motivated. During the warm months, there are a lot of potential buyers out there getting their feet wet - they might browse open houses during the weekends, peruse Zillow, and call agents to see homes even though they haven’t even started the pre-approval process. You will not find this lack of commitment during the winter season.
2. Less Competition
More inventory means more competition, and this is probably the most powerful argument for listing off-season. Being one of ten is a much better prospect than being one of seventy-five. When a buyer starts to look around, the more they see the more the features run together. Listing in the winter means that they will not forget your home and that its features will stand out.
3. Time
Time is a double-hitter here: time off of work and time from agents. People tend to have more time off during the holiday seasons, and less time at work means more time to look at houses. In addition to the late December holidays, MLK Day and President’s Day give buyer’s a couple three-day weekends to search as well. As for the agent, fewer clients means more focused time and attention - which is highly valuable when making the biggest sale of your life.
If you do decide to list during the holidays, make sure to keep holiday decor minimal. Follow the rule of thumb that less is more. We actually have a blog post about this topic that you can see here. But do play on the warmth of the season with a cozy fire or a scented candle. Janelle Williams, team leader of Janelle Williams and Associates ReeceNichols Real Estate, sums it up by agreeing that, “there are many excellent reasons to consider selling your home in the winter months. Typically, there is less inventory which means less competition, and winter buyers are serious, motivated, and often on a tight timeline.” All of which, homeseller, are good for YOU.
If you are looking to buy or sell, any of the associates at Janelle Williams and Associates ReeceNichols Real Estate would love to help you, real estate is our passion. You can call (913) 269-6780, or visit janellewilliams.com or janellewiliams.reecenichols.com. We look forward to working with you!
Written by Lindsey Hammer