Common real estate wisdom has it that spring and summer are the best time to list your house, but selling winter has some benefits that many people don’t know about. There is less competition, and typically consumers are more aggressive and more inspired. While the number of homes for sale across the country typically drops by about 15 percent in November and December, sales themselves remain relatively steady.
However to get into the winter-selling perks, you need to be more experienced and hostile, as well as vigilant in some respects in colder climates. There are 5 things to watch out for in colder climates like Eldorado Hills when selling.
1. Pricing for the Off-Season
If you don’t change your pricing strategy, you may be leaving money for winter sales on the table, particularly in colder climates like Eldorado Hills. There are fewer homes for sale, as we have just described, and buyers are often more inspired. So you’re probably supposed to price slightly higher, or at least test the waters at a higher price and see how it works.
For a few reasons, consumers are more aggressive and inspired. “Work changes also take place around the holidays when employers get ready for a new year, and families want to settle their kids before a new semester begins.” The local real estate broker will help you work out the best cold-climate pricing strategy.
2. Leveraging the Internet
The Internet knows no difference between summer and winter, warm weather and cold weather. That’s why almost all home buyers (93 percent) are searching for homes online regardless of the season or temperature. And that’s something people should take advantage of selling in colder climates like Eldorado Hills.
Because serious buyers are always searching for online homes, you need to make sure that your online listings are the best they can be, especially when it comes to listing images. Buyers are going to try to minimize winter travel time and look first online. It’s essential to have professional photos with proper lighting. You should also try to include photos that “show the landscaping of your home in other seasons.” Your agent can help you create a top-notch listing that is compelling even for selling in colder climates.
3. Doing What It Takes to Attract Buyers
One thing people need to look out for when selling in colder climates like Eldorado Hills is to make sure they do everything they need to attract buyers and keep them around for a while. This includes, the pros point out, looking at certain staging issues and highlighting certain points of sale, such as:
- Using judicious seasonal decoration – You should decorate your home warmly and inviting in line with the particular holiday season, but don’t overdo it. You want “to create an environment where buyers can see a celebration of themselves.”
- Using plenty of lighting – “For showing your home at dusk or later, an abundance of exterior and interior lights is essential,” which means placing higher wattage light bulbs that provide warm, but not harsh light. Not every light has to be on, but in every room you should have at least one light.
- Making your home cozy – Begin with de-cluttering and washing, then use cozy blankets and extra pillows to focus on coziness and light the fireplace.
- Showcasing energy efficiency – For buyers in colder climates, energy efficiency will be especially important. So go ahead and point out all the improvements in your energy efficiency, such as the triple-pane windows and extra insulation in the attic. And don’t be afraid to provide evidence of low utility bills.
4. Pushing for a Sale Before Year’s End
An important deadline people will look out for selling in colder climates like Eldorado Hills is the end of the year. Buyers who make their home purchase before the end of the year will enjoy some tax benefits, which will become even more important when utility bills are rising. So do not neglect to capitalize on the fact that before January 1, many buyers will be motivated to close.
Home buyers will write off typical home-purchase costs like mortgage interest, private mortgage insurance (PMI), and property taxes–all of which provide an incentive for a borrower to close before the new year. The added bonus is that if you intend to buy a new home in addition to selling your current home, you can also take advantage of these tax advantages if you reach the end of the year.
5. Using an Agent
As mentioned above, there are several areas of sale in colder climates such as Eldorado Hills where a good agent of real estate can be an invaluable asset. Further market problems face colder weather and colder climates–there’s just no way around it. So sellers who choose not to use an agent actually take a risk.