Over 5 million existing homes were sold in 2019. The market is booming, especially as people are looking to move away from the city and into the suburbs.
If you are looking to sell your home, you most likely have plenty of questions. How can I get the most for my house? When is the best season to sell? Do I have to wait until it warms up outside to sell my home?
If you are looking for the best tips for selling your home in the winter, look no further.
We have created the complete guide for everything you need to know about how you can sell your home fast during the colder months.
1. Embrace the Holiday Spirit
One major benefit of selling your home in the winter is that you can stage your home according to the holidays. Make your house as cozy and festive as possible.
You can amp up the holiday spirit and coziness with candles, a Christmas tree, and festive garlands and wreaths hanging around your home.
You can also maximize your curb appeal in the wintertime. Decorate the exterior of your home with stylish holiday lights and tasteful decorations. This is one of the best styling tips for selling your home in the winter.
2. Less Competition
One major benefit to selling your home during the winter is that there is significantly less competition. People tend to wait until the popular summer months to put their houses on the market, resulting in a flood of available homes for buyers.
Over 40 percent of homes are sold in the summer months versus just six percent in January and February.
If you sell your home in the winter, you will face much less competition from other homes that could have been on the market.
People also tend to not want to go out looking at homes when it is freezing outside. Because of this, you attract much more serious buyers.
3. Capitalize on the Tax Benefits
Many potential home buyers could be motivated to capitalize on the tax benefits of buying a home before the end of the year.
Not only can they write off the overall purchase of the home from their yearly taxes, but the fees and taxes associated with buying a home are tax-deductible. These include mortgage insurance, real estate taxes, and more.
4. Hire a Professional Photographer
It is also a good recommendation to have photos of your home on clear days without any snow. This will help future home buyers picture the house in the warmer, summer months.
Also, a professional photographer can make snowy pictures really pop. They can capture the true magic of a snow-covered home much better than a regular camera can.
5. Make Your Home Winter-Proof for Potential Buyers
If you are planning on selling your home in the winter, you have to make it as welcoming and safe as possible for potential home buyers.
You will have people walking up to your driveway and front walk. This means you need to make sure that your driveway and sidewalks are shoveled and cleared. Not only does this prevent slip and falls and possible liability, but it shows the house overall has been winterized.
Make sure that your furnace has been maintained and the heating system is up and running. No future buyer will want to invest in a drafty house.
6. Hire a Professional Home Stager
You must stage your home before selling. Potential home buyers want to buy a beautifully decorated home, not one filled with clutter or personal effects.
Before putting your house on the market, you need to research the best home staging tips for selling your home. This will help give you an idea of how to spruce up your home so that you get the most offers.
Or, if you do not want to worry about the style and staging of your home, you can hire a professional home stager. Many people selling their home in the winter tend to choose this option.
Hiring a professional home stager takes the stress off you during an already stressful season. They will style your home beautifully while you worry about buying gifts for your loved ones and work on selling your home.
7. Better Time for Negotiation
As it was mentioned earlier, you attract much more serious buyers in the winter months than in the summer months when there is more competition.
People could be trying to take advantage of the tax write-offs from buying a home before the end of the year and could be willing to pay a little more than anticipated.
Many corporate relocations occur in the winter months, meaning they have to move immediately. These buyers also tend to have assistance from their company, meaning they’re more willing to offer what you are asking.
You can use this to your advantage as a home seller.
During negotiations, you tend to have more power than the buyer. Use it to your advantage to get the most for your home.
Need More Tips For Selling Your Home In the Winter?
Winter can seem like a tough time to sell your home. However, with a little bit of creativity and hard work, you can end up getting the most money for your home by selling in the winter.
If you need more assistance, we have you covered. The dedicated team at We Buy Houses Memphis can help provide you with tips for selling your home.
Reach out to us to get a quote on your home and to connect with a real estate professional today.