So, you’ve been thinking about putting your home on the market… but the timing never seems right. We get it, life moves fast! It’s already the beginning of November and the holidays will be here before you know it. Entertaining guests, traveling, and spending time with family during this season is stressful enough that you can’t even fathom the thought of potential buyers walking all through your home, dealing with inspections and navigating.
So what do you do? Should you wait another few months after the holidays to list your home? We say no, and here are 4 reasons why it is better to get your home on the market now, before winter is over, and sell before the holiday mayhem.
In fact, according to Realtor.com the average number of days on market is 62 days. That means the longer you put off listing your home, the longer the sale will take to wrap up after the holidays, and still dealing with closing on a home at the first of the year may not be ideal. After all, that’s when you get to kick up your feet and celebrate the beginning of a new year, right? (Hopefully in your new home.)
Why Winter Is The Best Time To Sell
Less Competition
If you wait until spring to list like everyone else, there will be more competition. In the winter there are fewer homes on the market which will make your home stand out even more.
Showcase Winter Readiness
You can also use winter to your advantage when showing off your home’s features like fireplaces and hot tubs by making it cozy and warm. Selling in the winter also demonstrates that your home can handle harsh winter conditions.
Eliminate Looky-Loos
As you know, just because someone is looking at a home doesn’t mean they’re serious. If someone is taking the time out of their holiday break to come see your home, chances are they’re more intentional and serious. Although you may see fewer potential buyers come through showings and open houses, most of them will be more serious contenders.
Higher Offers
Since we are approaching the end of the year, performance reviews may bring more bonuses and financial freedom to a buyer’s budget which is great news for you, the seller.
With all this being said, 62 days from November 10th is January 10th. So, if you want to sell with all these advantages in mind during the winter, you may want to speed up your decision to list your home.