Many people ask if they should list their home in the winter or wait until the following spring. Despite the sometimes snowy and cold winters in Flagstaff, there are many good reasons to list and, yes, homes do in fact sell during the winter months.
Being that your home can sell anytime of the year, it’s more important to sell when you’re ready than to try to time the market or season perfectly.
Here’s a list I created of reasons to sell your home in the winter. As much as I wanted to make this a “Top 10” list, I have come up with eleven great reasons. So here goes…
1. You have less competition from other sellers because many homes come off the market.
2. The buyers who look in the winter are more serious buyers.
3. There are, indeed, plenty of buyers in the winter – some examples include: people who get relocated, people who sold in the summer and have been living in temporary housing until they find a place, and first-time homebuyers whose leases may end in the winter.
4. There are, in fact, numerous sales in the winter. Over the past six years, almost half of my sales have been between October and March.
5. Some motivating factors for buyers don’t depend on the season. For example, a new child being born may cause the family to want more space as soon as possible.
6. Many people have a strong motivation to spend the holidays in their new home.
7. Many people review their goals and finances around the first of the year and may decide that it’s time to buy a new home.
8. Some buyers may have more time to look for homes when they have off for the holidays.
9. Some homes may show better during the winter because they’re already being kept clean and decorated for the holidays.
10. Some people must buy before the end of the year for tax reasons.
11. We know what the current market and prices are like. We don’t know if it will be better or worse next year!