Who says Winter is a bad time to sell a home?
We have all, surely, heard the idea that when the cold, dark days of Winter approach the best practice is to pull your home from it's active listing and re-list once Spring has sprung and warmer weather has arrived. After all, no one is motivated to buy a home around the holidays and certainly not when the ground (and road) is covered in snow and the dreaded polar vortex is funneling cold, arctic, air out of Canada, right? Well, that may not be totally accurate. There is a study conducted by Redfin that seems to turn these notions, of Winter being a bad time to sell, around. They found that not only are homes listed in Winter more likely to sell one week QUICKER (average of 26 days on market from Dec 21-March 21 compared to 33-36 days on market for average sales other times of the year) but also for more money! But why?
Think about it. Who are buying homes during this time of year? Those who are motivated to buy because of job relocation or other factors. Here in Cincinnati, incoming GE and P&G employees provide a fair amount of motivated buyers but let's not forget about the large amount of medical personnel moving to the area due to our excellent hospitals. Also, Cincinnati, as a whole, is becoming much more attractive to small business owners and growing families. And, these relocations do not magically stop simply because it is snowing. We constantly hear of clients pulling their homes off the market when the cold approaches but that means those who leave their homes up suddenly experience less competition with the same amount of motivated buyers. What does that mean? That means that the sellers are in control during these months and that is why we see home selling for more money and faster.
"Isn't Winter the 'off-season' for Real Estate agents?"
You will hear that but that is not the case at Keller Williams Advisors and certainly not with Cheryl Ferry and her team! We advise sellers to stick it out in the Winter because in the end it usually works in their favor. Sure, that might mean a little extra work in keeping the sidewalk clear of snow and ice as well as simply enduring the cold while making your home more appealing but if you are serious about selling your home and for more money then it is definitely worth it! With this information in mind, give Cheryl a call at 513-289-2320 to discuss listing your home, now, while you are still in control.
That being said, let me recommend a few things to help make your home a little more appealing during the Winter.
As I stated earlier, keeping outside paths clear is a must. You want to make a showing at your home as pleasant as possible for the potential buyer so make sure the inside clutter is picked up and out of sight and the overall space is well lit. A warm and cozy home is extremely inviting so turn the thermostat up slightly for showings or have a fire in the fireplace. (What is more warm and cozy than a fire in a fireplace?) Use scented candles as well but do not over do it. The goal is to make this house, that you are trying to sell, feel more like a home to those who are coming through so take an hour or so and walk through your home and try to view it from the perspective of a buyer or better yet have your Realtor or a friend walk through and ask for feedback.
List your home with us! Contact Cheryl at 513-289-2320 or email at CherylFerryrealtor@gmail.com.