4 Reasons To List Your Home During Winter

If I asked you when the best time of year to sell a home is, you'd probably answer with Spring or Summer. While it's true that there's usually an uptick in home sales during this time of year, it doesn't mean you shouldn't list your home during winter months. Before the invention of the world wide web, the task of selling your home during colder months was a little more challenging than it is now, particularly in our Missouri climate. Let's be honest, who wants to spend their Saturday or Sunday traipsing around through the wind and snow looking at homes? The invention of the internet has changed the way we shop, and home shopping is not excluded. This leads us to #1...

1. 90% OF HOME BUYERS BEGIN THEIR SEARCH ONLINE

That's right. 90%!!! This should come as no surprise considering the world we live in. What does this mean for home sellers? Shoppers don't need sunny, warm weather to find potential homes to buy. They can (and do) search for homes from the comfort of their family room regardless of the temps outside. What's even more, according to the National Association of Realtors, 100% of home shoppers use the internet to research a specific home. So, let's say John Doe is driving home from work and sees a 'For Sale' sign in your yard. There's a 100% chance that he's going to look your home up online anyway.

2. SERIOUS BUYERS

Folks who are in the market to buy a home during winter months are more likely to be serious buyers. Let's be honest here, if given the choice, most of us would rather be hauling our belongings into a moving truck when the weather is pleasant. Additionally, families with children typically prefer to make a move when kids are out of school for the summer. Those who are moving during the school year are far more likely to be moving because they don't have the option of waiting until the kids are out of school because they are under some kind of time constraint due to a job change or something similar.

3. LESS COMPETITION

Because of the above mentioned, there are fewer home listings during the winter. This means less competition for you and, potentially, a quicker sale.

4. BETTER OFFERS

This one may surprise you. While it's not a guarantee, it is possible to garner a higher selling price in the winter months than it is in warmer months. According to Redfin, when comparing all four seasons, the number of homes selling above asking price in winter is second (barely) only to the number sold above asking price in spring months.

Ready to list your home? Here are a few tips to consider:

• Keep your driveway and sidewalks shoveled and de-iced. This is for safety, but also aesthetics.
• Winter days are short. Adding some exterior spotlights can add drama and curb appeal to your home.
• When you know someone will be touring your home, make sure the house is warm. You want your home to feel warm and cozy!

If you're thinking of selling and want to chat, give us a call! We'd love to help. Contact us HERE.