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A lot of people assume that winter is a poor time to buy or sell homes. In many areas of the country it’s cold, grey, and the weather is far from inviting.
In addition, home sellers assume that winter is a poor time to showcase homes. In reality, it’s not hard at all to improve your curb appeal in winter!
For savvy home sellers and buyers, winter is the perfect time to move on real estate. Here are some reasons why.
You’ll also find a FREE download – all of these reasons put together in a flyer you can send to prospects or hand out during pop bys.
NOW is the Time to Buy
The housing market has been absolutely insane for buyers lately, with multiple offers and bidding wars coming in on every home.
During the winter, when there are fewer buyers vying for homes, you can do far better at getting a home you’re targeting. You may still have to come in close to the ask, but you are a lot less likely to lose a home to a much higher bid or get caught in a bidding war.
If you want to buy a home, get on it while you can!
Sellers: The Future Isn’t Guaranteed
A seller may hesitate to list in the winter because they feel that they can get a better price in spring or summer. The thing to focus on is, what are the seller’s goals?
Can they achieve the goals they’re looking at more quickly by selling at a good price now, versus holding out and hoping for a super-high price later?
If so, they need to move forward. No one knows what the future holds. It’s better to get into the market you know than hope for a market you’re unsure will ever happen.
Realtors® Are More Attentive in Winter
Because so many buyers and sellers skip the winter, when you DO take advantage of this season, you get a lot more personal attention. It’s just a fact!
With less demands on their time, they will be able to take more time thinking up creative marketing strategies (like making a walk-through video) and connecting with leads for your home.
Buyers, you’ll be able to see home more readily and have your questions answered quickly. Sellers are more motivated, so the deal will probably close quickly!
Buyers and Sellers Are More Serious in Winter
If you’re considering whether to list your home, you may not be excited about having folks walking through and evaluating your house. However, it’s a vital part of the process.
In the winter, though, you’ll have more serious buyers. There won’t be as many people looking around “for fun” or just “curious what’s out there.”
There are also fewer homes competing against your listing. In fact, Redfin found that homes listed in winter are 9% more likely to sell and tend to sell one week faster than listings in other times of year.
As a buyer, you’ll find that sellers are more motivated in the winter as well. Folks listing in December – February aren’t doing it for fun – they generally have a reason they need to move.
They’re trying to reach personal goals, they are relocated for work, or they have another of a variety of factors influencing their decision. Regardless, they’re not looking to extend the process – it’s time for them to move on.
Get More Activity in Winter Today!
Just because you know these things are true doesn’t mean your prospects do! Download our free flyer, Seven Reasons Selling Your Home in Winter is BETTER Than Waiting for Spring or Summer.
You can use it as a handout, a mailing, or simply use it to beef up your listing presentation. The sign-up form is below. Grab yours today!
The piece we ran on Thanksgiving marketing ideas was a huge hit, so we thought you might want to market yourself for Valentine’s Day too. I personally think marketing you do at the beginning of the year will help your spring selling season. The time of year when a majority of people contemplate moving.
get it out! Offer a prize or drawing for those who send you a picture of their completed word search to increase the engagement with your audience. Post it on your social media channels, your website and encourage competition to make it fun! As people respond, you’ll be collecting leads AND building a relationship. Step it up a notch by having a competition with one of the other agents in your office to see who can get the most responses. Publicize your competition to get your sphere of influence to help you rally for the win!
When many sellers get ready to sell their homes, the first question many consider is, “Can I get away with not using a Realtor®?” With all of the For Sale By Owner (FSBO) websites popping up, it’s easy for a homeowner to think they can save money by listing the property themselves and not paying your commission. You and I know that’s simply not true and that homes sold by Realtors® sell for more and much faster, it’s been proven time and time again.