Selling your house during winter is just as viable as selling it at other times of the year. Summer and spring may be associated with the greatest amount of real estate activity, but the number of people looking to buy a home is never significantly affected by the season, especially in today’s housing market. This means that homes can still attract buyers even during the cold months. Here are some pros and cons of selling your home during winter.
Advantages of Selling Your House During Winter
1. Less Competition
Most people put up their property for sale either during summer or spring so there are often fewer homes for sale during the winter months. Typically, if there are fewer homes in the market to choose from, then the demand for your home increases.
2. Quicker Transactions When Selling Your House During Winter
Less competition in the market can help create faster transactions during winter. This makes the whole process of selling your house shorter and more efficient since lenders have fewer loans to inspect and process.
3. Buyers are More Motivated
While there may be fewer buyers during the cold season, the ones who are looking tend to be more serious and motivated. They often have a pressing issue that requires them to get a house quickly, like a job relocation or a change in financial and family needs. This serves as an advantage for sellers looking to sell their homes quickly and at a good price.
4. More Focused and Attentive Real Estate Agents
With fewer listings during winter, your agent will have more time to focus on your house than they would during spring or summer. They will also more quickly arrange showings, market, and negotiate deals about your property.
Disadvantages of Selling Your House During Winter
1. Limited Curb Appeal When Selling Your House During Winter
Bad weather is the biggest drawback of selling a house during winter. The shorter days of winter make showing off the home’s exterior, especially the landscaping, quite challenging. Curb appeal is usually limited at this time of the year, making it hard to create an excellent first impression for your buyers.
2. Less Offers
Fewer buyers in the market also mean that you may not receive multiple offers on your property. When you don’t have as many options to choose from, you may end up selling your home at a lower price.
3. Some Home Flaws are More Visible
Most flaws tend to become more apparent during the cold months if your home is drafty, dark, or leaky. You can quickly fix this issue by making minor repairs to prepare your property for showings.
4. Savvy Buyers
Selling your house during winter may attract savvy buyers. They see a home listed in the market during winter and assume that the seller is desperate to offload their property. This then leads to the seller receiving lowball offers.
While the drawbacks are significant, the right mindset and a little hard work can make selling your house during winter the right choice. Consider all the above before deciding on the best time to sell your home.
Home King Inspection Service offers home inspections to customers in Metro Detroit and the surrounding area. Contact us to schedule our services.