This is the perfect time to get your house ready for winter. The days are shorter, it’s cold outside and there are fewer people looking at houses. Selling in the spring is popular, but winter has significant advantages. Don’t be fooled into thinking that winter is a bad time to sell your home- because it isn’t! Here are five reasons why:
1) There will be less competition
Spring is always a popular time to list your home for sale. However, there are some drawbacks to this marketing strategy. For example, potential buyers are more likely to be out of state due to school and work. This means they may not be as familiar with the area as you are, or interested in what’s available. On the other hand, if you sell now, you can spend your time making your home look its best while winter is hitting hard (e.g., clean gutters, remove snow).
Advantages:
- You’ll get a jump on all the competition when it starts getting busier in the spring
- In the spring, people start getting excited about warm weather again and start looking for houses to buy.
2) You’ll have more time on your hands to improve your house before winter hits hard.
Winter is coming and there are certain repairs your home needs if it’s going to stay warm, comfortable and safe for you and your family. This is a good time to get much-needed work done on things like doors, gutters, energy efficiency (such as attic insulation), windows etc.
3) You’ll have the chance to make your house stand out from the competition.
Many people who are house-hunting in the winter are looking to move away for the season. Your home will be less crowded and you can take advantage of that by offering amenities you might not otherwise have (e.g., a huge yard or pool).
- You’ll have more time to get your house ready to sell before it’s on the market.
- It may seem counterintuitive, but having an empty house is actually a good thing when you’re trying to sell it quickly. This is because it means there’s plenty of space for potential buyers to tour when they come over and much less work for you while showing agents around.
- The holidays bring out buyers who want to make an impact with their first home purchase;
5) Homes can qualify for tax deductions if they’re bought before year end
Here’s a list of the specific items that may be able to receive a deduction:
- Mortgage interest
- Property taxes
- Depreciation on additions or improvements made by the homeowner
- Points paid when purchasing the home (such as an origination fee)
- Qualified energy efficiency improvements.
So if you’ve been thinking about selling your house but want to keep it until next year so that you’ll get more tax benefits- think again! You could potentially lose out on some significant savings this year. The deadline is December 31st so don’t wait too long.
Sell It:
If you’re looking for an easy way to sell your house quickly and get a jump on the competition, it’s time to start thinking about winter. In this article we’ve provided five reasons why selling in the winter is actually better than waiting until spring. For more information or help with listing your home, give us call today!
