One of the most important questions homeowners ask themselves during the selling process is whether it’s a good time to put their house on the market.
While many real estate experts think that spring is the ideal time to sell a home, there are plenty of reasons why it’s a good idea to sell your home during the fall or winter months.
There are pros and cons to both, of course, but here are several reasons why choosing to sell your home now may be a better decision than waiting until the spring.
1. Less competition
One great reason to sell your home now rather than waiting until the spring market is there is sure to be less competition. The fewer the number of comparable homes for sale, the greater the probability that a buyer will look at your home. Simply put, it’s the supply and demand theory.
If there are fewer homes for sale, that means there are fewer homes that a potential buyer can choose from, therefore increasing the demand for your home. Not only will less competition increase the probability of showings, but it also will increase the likelihood that an offer will be received and you will get the maximum amount of money for your home.
2. Serious buyers are out there
Many homeowners believe that buyers aren’t out there during the fall and winter months, but that’s just not the case. While some buyers may stop their home search because, during the fall or winter, serious buyers will continue to look at homes no matter what time of year it is.
Fall and winter months also are a great time for a potential buyer to see what a specific neighborhood is like. Do your neighbors have pumpkins on their front steps? Are there lots of trick-or-treaters on Halloween?
Do any of your neighbors have light displays for the holidays? Many buyers will look at these types of things when determining whether your home is in the right neighborhood for them.
3. The best agents are always up to the challenge
A professional real estate agent will know how to adapt to the current season and market their listings to reflect that. A great real estate agent can make suggestions and give some of their tips on how to sell a home during the fall or winter seasons.
If a real estate agent doesn’t have any suggestions on making your home more desirable for the current season, you should be concerned about the creativity they are going to use when marketing your home.
4. Staging for the holiday season
Simple “seasonal” staging such as adjusting the color of the decor or having an aroma in the air that is relative to the time of year can go a long way with some potential buyers and possibly be the difference between a home selling or not.
5. Speedier transactions
Fewer real estate transactions typically occur during the fall and winter than in the spring. That means mortgage lenders have fewer loans to process, attorneys have fewer closings to do and home inspectors have fewer inspections taking place. All of these factors should translate into a quicker transaction and closing for all the parties involved.