Advantages & Disadvantages of Selling Your Home in the Winter

Advantages

Smaller Housing Inventory: Because the holidays are traditionally slower selling season and sellers are just as busy as buyers at this time of year, few homes are put on the market towards the end of the year. In addition, many previously listed properties are taken off the market as a temporary measure. While the number of active buyers is lower during the winter, sellers also face less competition.

Serious Buyers: People who are willing to rearrange their holiday schedule and brave the elements to shop for a home in general tend to be motivated, serious buyers. In many cases buyers at this time of year are invigorated by the promise of impending year-end bonuses. The demands of the season in large part also eliminate false alarms casual buyers from who are “just looking”. In addition, many buyers want to buy before the end of the year for tax purposes.

Disadvantages

Bad weather: Potential homebuyers are only human, so naturally winter’s stormier conditions can convince many consumers to stay indoors.

Shorter days: Most buyers prefer to view homes in the full light of day, even when casually looking at houses and neighborhoods by car. With fewer daylight hours in the winter, homebuyers are usually limited to weekends for in-person showings.

Busy schedules: Time is at an absolute premium during a season of shopping for presents, attending holiday parties and traveling to visit relatives. Most people don’t feel they can spare time during these months to shop for homes or plan the move to a new home.

If you have questions or are interested in selling your home, email me at Sellit@SellThisDamnHouse.com or call (816.520.3620) I would love to help.

Jacqueline McCroy Elbert
RE/MAX Realty Suburban
http://www.SellThisDamnHouse.com/
http://www.realestateforspecialneeds.com/