Selling Your Home In Winter

 Selling Your Home In Winter

Come spring, it’s an accepted fact that your home will be just another small fish in a big fish pond. There are fewer homes listed for winter which means that you’ve got the market to yourself. Other sellers may not be aware that winter is a superb time to sell their homes. With less inventory in the wintertime, you have more control which means selling faster.


2. Price is right!


If you’re considering selling your home this season, you may be surprised by the special pricing considerations the season brings. Unlike during spring where shoppers are more (hence you try to price low to generate more bidding), winter, on the other hand, does not involve multiple offers.


That does not mean that it’s a good time to test the market and be tempted to list high. If the house doesn’t get offers from buyers, you may need to drop the price below the market value to appeal to potential buyers. Otherwise, when spring kicks in, your house may look stale by comparison.


You should price the house at market value. Consider the closing prices of similar properties over the past month then look at the current prices to ensure that your pricing doesn’t sound too high. A buyer may be willing to pay a higher price upfront considering that there may be rising mortgage rates.


3. Motivated buyers


One thing that people often miss is obvious. Most people like being at home during the holidays. That means that the buyers looking for a home are much more motivated. People who are willing to brave the fall and snow are serious about getting a home. They have to get a home. Most home buyers in wintertime are working against a deadline whether a relocation, an expiring lease or a contract on their current home. You’ll probably have fewer showings, but the buyers who'll come through are more qualified. Isn't this the ideal situation?


4. A locked in real estate agent


There’s a higher chance that your real estate agent will be relatively idle during winter months which can work to your advantage. Fewer clients imply that the agent will be more motivated to move to the properties they represent. With more time, they will be willing to concentrate on your cause and can even take you off the ledge in case the selling process becomes stressful.


Conclusion


There are obviously numerous factors that lead to the decision of when to list your home for sale, but if you are considering selling in the winter, there are the benefits. You may also need to consider the benefits of selling your home in other seasons and make a decision.


It’s a happy discovery for many people who list their homes when the weather outside is frightful!

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Preparing Your Home for Fall

Clean the air ducts in your heating system. Vacuum dirt from all floor vents, baseboard heaters and the cold air return. Dust build-up is a major cause of indoor dirty air. In a home that is insulated and air tight for the winter, dust increases the possibility of illness.

Check the heating system. Change the filter every month, check the pilot light and burners in a system fueled by gas or oil. Fireplaces, boilers, water heaters, space heaters and wood burning stoves should also be serviced and checked every year.

Clean out your gutters. Remove all debris that slows down the ability for your gutters to drain effectively from the roof. Standing water in your gutter can freeze and thaw, which will crack and break your gutters.

Check the roof. Look for loose or missing shingles, gaps in the vents and flues, as well as damaged mortar around the chimney. Immediate maintenance can prevent emergencies and expensive repairs.

Check steps and handrails. Repair any broken steps and secure all loose banisters.

Inspect exterior walls and window sills. Check walls and window sills for damage such as cracks, gaps, loose or crumbling mortar, along with splitting and decaying wood. Caulk exterior joints around windows and doors, which will lower heating bills

Remove any damaged tree limbs. Dead branches will damage a roof or a deck if they break and fall off.

Test all smoke, fire and carbon monoxide detectors. Often alarms and detectors go unattended. Batteries should be changed every six months. Most people change them when they have to reset their clocks for daylight savings in the spring and fall.

Pools, sprinkler systems and outside faucets. Homeowners can shut down outside faucets, and disconnect all outside hose bibs from hoses. Professionals should blow out and winterize sprinkler systems.Remove all pond equipment.

Preparing your home in the fall will allow you to keep the cold air of winter outside. For a free checklist of additional items to complete before Old Man Winter arrives contact The H Team