Best month to sell a house? Worst month to sell a house? Are you wondering the best time
to sell a house? In this video I am going to discuss why the Holidays Can Be a Great
Time to Sell Your Home! And I am going to start right after this:
Hello! My name is Patrick Fields, I am a realtor here in Edmonton Alberta with RE/MAX Select.
I post new videos every week so if you are not already subscribed to my channel then
do yourself a favor and hit that subscribe button – my goal is to help educate people
on the home buying and selling process, and hey, If you like the information that I cover
here, please give it a thumbs up! I get asked all the time, when is the best
time to sell a home? Many people think that the ideal time to sell your home is in the
spring. After all, many people hunker down during the winter months or are too busy with
the holidays to think about buying a home. Not to mention that people like to start shopping
in the spring to make sure they are settled in their home in the summer or before the
start of a new school year. But putting your house up for sale around the holidays has
its benefits, granted you position your home right. Sure you may not get into a bidding
war, but you are going to deal with serious buyers who are ready and financially able
to buy your home. Here are #9 reasons why the winter might be
the best time to sell your home! There’s Less Inventory! Conventional wisdom says people
should wait until the spring to get the most from a home sale. But studies have shown that
homes listed around the holidays cannot only command more money but can also sell quicker
than ones listed in the spring. One of the reasons is that there is less competition
during the holidays. There are a number of reasons why some people won’t put their
houses up for sale when the holidays are coming up, and so serious home buyers aren’t going
to have an endless supply of good homes to choose from. In the spring, inventory always
rises, and price wars can break out in some neighborhoods. But during the holidays, there
will be limited choices which means a homeowner can possibly have a higher asking price.
Buyers Are More Serious! Anyone who is shopping for a new home after
Halloween and during Christmas or New Year’s is undoubtedly going to be a serious buyer.
One big reason you should list during the Winter is that the buyers that look at your
home, are very serious about purchasing. Not to say Spring and Summer buyers aren’t,
however they usually spend more time browsing the market. Winter buyers are more motivated
to find the home that’s best for them and get the deal done! No one likes trudging around
in the snow hopping in and out of houses when it’s freezing cold! So potentially you can
have a quicker sale! And people usually get lots of time off of work to go looking at
houses during the Christmas break! You Can Make the Home Festive, Warm and Cozy!
Homeowners who put their houses up for sale during the winter months, can stage their
home to give off the comfy and homey vibe that appeals to many home buyers. Some people
may argue that showing a house in the winter is hard to do because there’s snow on the
ground, the house is drafty and the curb appeal is lacking.
But keeping the heat up, having a gas or electric fireplace going (don’t leave the house if
your wood burning fireplace is going!) having fresh baked cookies to give off a wonderful
smell and keeping the sidewalk and driveway clear of snow and ice can boost a home’s
appeal. Not to mention that buyers tend to be more emotional during the holidays and
will make decisions based on the feeling a house conjures up.
Marketing & exposure! With the number of listings that drop during
the Winter, it frees up more time for us to increase our marketing efforts into marketing
your property. That means the video tour or Social Media advertising has a better chance
of getting seen and getting your home found and SOLD!
Timing Is Perfect for Transfers! The end of the year is typically the time
when people get notified that they will be moving because of a job transfer. Statistically,
January & February are the highest months of the year for corporate employees transferring
and relocating. This makes listing during the Winter months and opportune time.
Those people are going to need a house sooner rather than later, and as a result, can be
hunting for a new home during the holidays. These buyers can’t wait for the spring,
which is why listing during the holidays can get your home sold,and sold quickly.
Your Neighborhood May Look More Appealing! One of the staples of the holiday months,
particularly around Christmas, is that many people have festive lights and decorations.
That is also true of local communities where lit-up snowflakes or wreaths can be found
on lamp poles and up and down the boulevard. People purchasing a home during that time
may see the neighborhood in a different light and may be more willing to consider an area
that they may have been unsure about. Low interest rates!
Interest rates are still really LOW!! When buyers can borrow money cheaper it’s a huge
win!! Interest rates are still crazy low in the 2.8% range. But as great as that is, those
numbers aren’t going to last forever and are predicted to go up in 2020! And if you
are selling and moving up, you can take advantage of these low rates too!
End-of-Year Tax Breaks! Reducing the tax bill is not the main reason
buyers purchase a new home, but it could be the reason serious buyers make a move during
the holidays. That’s because if the home sales that close on or before Dec. 31, buyers
can deduct the mortgage interest, property taxes and interest costs of the loan. The
tax deductions can be significant and could prompt a home buyer to move during the holidays
instead of waiting until the spring. The Bottom Line...
Nobody wants their home to sit on the market with no activity, nor do they want to continually
have to lower the list price. And while many fear that will happen if they list their home
during the holidays, often that isn’t the case. When you sell your home during the holidays,
you will face less competition, have more serious buyers and potentially a quicker sales
process. It also presents a unique opportunity to create a warm and cozy environment that
you don’t have in the spring or summer months. Now please remember that any successful home
sale is contingent on 3 things Condition, location and price!
I am going to include a link to a website so you can find out the value of your home!
Hey, Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE, LEAVE A COMMENT AND HIT LIKE!
If you have questions or would like me to do a do a home audit evaluation on your home,
or give you a copy of my Informed Sellers Guide that outlines 8 key steps to a painless
and profitable home sale, just give me a call, my cell number is below:
Have yourself an amazing day! Thanks for watching and I will see you next time!! 😊