The idea of selling your home in winter shouldn’t give you the chills. Many factors play to your advantage when you put your property on the market at this time of year.
As an experienced agency, we know you’ll enjoy less competition from rival sellers seeking to win buyers’ attention during the winter months.
Why is this? Many sellers believe they’ll get a better price in the spring and summer, but that’s not certain. There are more considerations when pricing a home than the weather.
The biggest influencers are confidence in the economy, personal job security, affordability and price trends, and the supply of available homes.
Whether it’s sunny or snowy doesn’t make much difference. It can be a sunny winter’s day, or bucketing down with rain in the middle of summer. So, spending time worrying about the seasons is a little pointless.
And in winter, your home can attract attention simply because there are fewer options for buyers.
Given the 1.25% cut in interest rates over the past few months, our agents are seeing an increasing number of buyers seeking well-presented homes priced at market value.
Further, many buyers have been cruising the market for months in search of their dream home but had no luck.
Below, we’ve listed some tips for preparing your home for a winter sales:
First Impressions – Always clear your driveway and pathway before prospective buyers inspect your property. Firstly, there’s a safety factor, right? Secondly, you don’t want folks picturing themselves having to do this work as they walk up to your front door.
Nice, not ice – Don’t let icicles form around the roof and gutters. Smart buyers will believe you have a ventilation issue, or that water is backing up in the gutters and turning to ice. Icicles look pretty but they’re bad news.
Mean Clean –Take your time to do a really mean clean of your front entrance. Everyone has a problem with dirt and salt getting walked into the house or apartment block, and messing up the front porch or entrance. Being diligent in this area will ensure you make a good first impression.
Warm Welcome – It’s a great idea to turn up the heating to give your visitors a warm welcome – literally. Set the thermostat around 22C or 23C. It’s also a nice touch to offer a hot drink on arrival. After all, your buyers will have battled snow and traffic to reach you. Showing your appreciation can work wonders.
Fix Problems – The snow won’t hide all the problems around your home. So make sure you fix or renovate areas that might otherwise impact your asking price. A fresh coat of paint indoors is a relatively inexpensive improvement but will yield a good return.
No Drafts – To sell successfully in winter, you need to pay attention to drafts around the house. Be diligent in sealing the problem areas. A home that leaks heat and feels cold is poorly regarded.
Helping Hand – Have you investigated provincial grants for energy efficiency initiatives around the home? Find out whether you would qualify. Ontario and BC have excellent programs that can save you thousands of dollars.
Hints of Holidays – It’s a good idea to decorate for the Holidays but don’t go over the top. This year, have a small tree. A large one will eat up space and give the impression your home is smaller than it is.