1. Low inventory = less competition
Since late winter and early spring tends to be the busier house-selling season, the offerings are numerous with a myriad of options. Supply can surpass demand. Buyers have many choices. However late fall and early winter, there are fewer homes for sale. That competition over low inventory can make winter an ideal time to sell your home.
2. You get to show your home’s winter-readiness
Selling November to January also gives you the opportunity to show that a home is designed to handle the chilly winds, rain, frost and more! Showing sellers how much life is left with the roof and how well the furnace and fireplace work by actually providing pre-inspections along with a live demo. Cozy winter dreams are sold by a little prep work.
3. New parents may be looking to upgrade
The baby boom in September may lead to more buyers later in the year. According to data from the Center for Health Statistics and the Social Security Administration, there are more birthdays in the month of September than any other time of the year. Therefore, there’s likely to be a crop of growing families looking to trade-up to a larger home.
4. Winter brings out the serious buyers’
News flash: Not everyone looking at a home intends to buy. Some people are contemplating moving and may just be checking out market offerings. Since more homes tend to go on the market in spring and fall, this is also when window shoppers are likely to be out looking. Just like sellers, buyers looking for homes during the last quarter, are motivated. There is a genuine need to buy and a desired wish to sell so scratching out the neighbors and “just looking for interior design ideas” means less traffic, fewer showings and need for 100 booties. Holiday real estate sales are realized with less hoopla separating the serious from the whimsical. Interest can be generated with clients provided that the property is offered at the correct price.
5. Year-end financial bonuses and payouts
As a seller, year-end performance reviews could mean that more people have money to spend on a home. End-of-year financial bonuses or workers retiring with large payouts could mean opportunities for these buyers to upgrade their living situations or for first-time buyers to enter the housing market.
6. Corporate relocation
The winter market is a popular time for buyers who are relocating for new positions.
One of the biggest months for corporate relocation is January so those buyers, who need to move quickly, are out in full force looking for new homes then and the weeks that most people are celebrating a December holiday. Relos typically have a limited amount of time to uproot their families and, as a result, don’t have the luxury of spending a lot of time looking at properties. The kids need to get settled into school, and dealing with selling their old home can add another level of urgency and stress. So it’s likely that once they find a home that meets their requirements, these buyers will be ready to send in an strong offer.