A lot of people assume spring is the ideal time to sell a house. While buyer demand usually picks up at that time of year, so does your competition. And with so many listings flooding the market, your property can have a tough time standing out.
The most important thing to think about is if selling your home now aligns with your financial timeline. If you are ready to sell your home, rest assured that there are plenty of benefits to selling during winter.
The real advantage of selling your house before spring? It will stand out.
Historically, the number of homes for sale tends to drop during the cooler months – and that means buyers looking for a home have fewer options to choose from.
You can see how that trend has played out over the past few years in data collected by the National Association of Realtors. During the past few years, the supply of homes for sale dipped during the winter season, starting around September After each winter lull, inventory begins to climb as more sellers jumped into the market.
Knowing about this winter lull gives you an edge when selling. While inventory is higher this year than it‘s been in the last few winters, if you work with an agent to list now, it will still be in this year’s sweet spot. While other sellers are taking their homes off the market to wait for spring or are preoccupied with the holiday season, you can sell before the spring wave of new listings hits and your house will have a greater chance of standing out. Why wait until spring when competition will be more intense when you can get ahead of the curve now?
Fewer Listings Also Means More Eyes on Your Home
Another big perk of selling in the winter? Buyers who are looking right now are serious about making a move.
During this season, the window-shopper crowd tends to stay busy with other things, like holiday celebrations and avoids looking for homes when the weather’s cooler. So, the buyers out looking aren’t casually browsing—they’re motivated, whether it’s because of a job relocation, a lease ending, or some other time-sensitive reason. And those are the types of buyers you want to work with, because they may be more willing to move faster on offers and close quickly.
Following Your Timeline
If you are ready to sell and it makes financial sense for you and your family, then why wait until the spring, when there will be more competition–both from other buyers and other listings.
While there are some cons to selling during the colder months, if you are ready to move, then these cons far outweigh the future benefits you will give yourself and your family. Your family’s needs and goals should always take priority. If the timing is right, winter could be the perfect time to make a move.
Bottom Line
With serious buyers on the hunt, you’ll be in a great position to sell your house this winter. If you are not sure where to begin, reach out to your local Seven Gables real estate advisor. They will be able to explain local market trends in your neighborhood and start the home-selling process.
