Many people assume waiting till spring or summer is the best strategy to delve into the housing market, whether buying or selling. However, this is not always true as there are many factors to consider. Especially for those looking to sell their property, the traditional “off-seasons” can provide unique advantages and opportunities.
Decrease in Competition
Since spring and summer are conventionally the busiest seasons for real estate, fall and winter can provide lessened competition in selling. The decreased number of newly listed homes on the market means one’s own property has a greater chance of standing out. Potentially, this also helps to secure a better price, as lower inventory lends itself to more straightforward negotiations. The risk of harried price wars in popular neighbourhoods is low, and some homes actually sell quicker in the off months if marketed properly. Putting a home up for sale in late winter, particularly, can often yield desirable results.
Serious Buyers Shop All Year
Though a large portion of those in the market to buy wait until the warmer seasons, there are still plenty of serious buyers eager to start their search any time of year. Believe it or not, the winter and holiday seasons come with their own benefits. Open houses in the colder seasons are typically only attended by those seriously looking to settle into a new home. Spring and summer open houses, on the other hand, are notorious for attracting people just curious for a look, and not necessarily set on moving. With the many busy, festive engagements that decorate the late fall and early winter, people are not likely to visit homes for sale just to check out their interior design.
The coming of a new year can also be highly motivating for those looking to seriously change up their living space. Aside from resolutions, sellers can also strategically capitalize on the “coziness” of the winter and holiday seasons to secure a good sale. With proper home staging, savvy sellers and professionals can feed into the concept of ideal home life. Instead of letting snow and ice keep them from showing off their asset, turning up the heat and offering cozy aesthetics and treats can play on the emotions the time of year conjures. This can often mean a quicker and more profitable sale.
More Available Professional Support
Since so many start to sell and buy homes in the warmer months, professionals in the industry, such as appraisers, lenders, and inspectors, become extremely busy with work. In the off-season, sellers have a greater opportunity to consider multiple professionals and choose which best fit their needs. Multiple clients are typically taken on at once for an individual professional, which can breed difficult time constraints between clients in peak real estate season.
Reputable professionals, like realtors, find a way to work with such limits and still provide quality assistance, less stress on their schedules can only improve their relations with clients. With a serious decrease in clients during colder seasons, professionals have much more time at their disposal to devote to just a few committed clients. This ensures deeper communication and more attention to detail, which is important for reeling buyers in. Reach out to Martin MacFarlane today for expert consultation in all seasons. Enlist seasoned professional expertise to sell your home for optimized profitability all year long.
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