Ask any agent when is it a good time to sell your property and they will almost always say the present. Why would you consider selling now, in Winter? Surely no one is buying houses in such cold weather?! Surely no one goes to open houses in the cold?
The answers to the questions are yes and no.
Yes people are still buying houses in Winter and no people are still going to open houses in the cold weather too. Think about, in winter there are less properties on the market for sale, therefore reducing the competition for the buyer’s money. This is where you can take advantage of this and make your property stand out.
Does your home have a fireplace? A reverse cycle air conditioner? When selling your home in winter, it is important that the home is warm and inviting. Turn these or light the fire prior to your open house or private inspection. Not only is the allure of an open or combustion fire romantic and inviting, it warms most houses. If you think of this and the others don’t, you have instantly gained a distinct advantage over the competing properties and will encourage the buyers to spend a little more time to appreciate the home. Rake up the fallen leaves and trim back dead tree branches. If your garden is something special in spring, have some photos of it to show prospective buyers what they can expect in the coming months.
Do buyers attend open houses in winter?
Research shows that 70% of people that come through open houses aren’t even buyers. For the agent it is a great opportunity to meet the neighbours and other people with an interest in property. It is important that if you do have an open house that some rules are adhered to. I will cover these another time. So if only 30% of people that come through the open house are buyers, during the colder months it is more likely that the percentage of buyers to lookers will be higher as the weather will keep the sticky beaks at home.
So to sum up. Winter is a good time to sell if you are serious about moving or need to move. Less competition, more genuine and serious buyers. To discuss your plans or find out what you could achieve in today’s market, contact our office on (02) 49261566.
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