The LOVELY Winter Blues of Real Estate - Bring Color to the Curb

I cringe everytime I hear someone say "well its winter, nothing sells in winter, right?"    This is simply NOT true.  Grab a bar of soap and wash that out of your ears..right now.

While many real estate agents are cozying down for the winter months, I'm researching waterproof snow boots and fingerless gloves so I can trek my buyers to and from houses while wielding stats from my smartphone.  Yes, I said buyers.  Buyers in winter are not mythical creatures like unicorns and live-in baristas.  They are real, and they are serious! And you are not a hibernating bear.

So here are my Top 5 Things I say to those needing to sell in winter but may have been brainwashed by the market.

1. BUYERS ARE STILL OUT!  Albeit not quite as many as in summer, but let me tell you who isn't getting out into the snow and cold to look at homes.
             1. First time homebuyers who aren't quite sure they want to buy yet (or any buyer for that matter who is undecided).  They get out in the summer months and dream about having that back patio for summer bbq's, but their credit just isn't quite right, they don't quite have enough for the down payment and all the other fees. In the summer they flutter around looking and dreaming and wince when their agent keeps begging for that prequal letter.  Come fall they say "well, after Christmas we'll file our taxes, yadda yadda, yadda" 
            2.   Lookie-loos.  They are different than those undecided.  These are the people that have no intention in buying a house, whether they know it or not.  They migrate from open house to open house eating all the cookies and criticizing their neighbors choice of wallpaper.

2. WINTER BUYERS ARE SERIOUS!  So serious they are getting out in unfavorable weather conditions looking for that cozy place to call home.  For whatever the reason, they have to move.  They may be a thin herd, but they need homes.

3. NO COMPETITION!  Since no one really reads this blog, there are still many people out there who have been told by hibernating agents "just wait until spring."  I've already explained there are hungry needy buyers out there and when everyone is keeping their house off the market in the winter, buyers have nothing to chose from!  I say take advantage of the slim competition! Wear that lawn sign like a beacon on a foggy night!!   Get it sold!  It definitely won't sell if you don't list it. 

3. TIME TO DRESS UP FOR THE WINTER BALL! Now that you have been convinced to list your home in the winter. Time to put on the pretty dress. Curb Appeal is tricky with dormant landscaping.  Freshen the mulch, add some stones, bring in some potted evergreens, and rake the leaves!  Dress up your porch with some bright outdoor vases and pots, even if they aren't filled. Maybe even paint the front door a fun color.   Color is necessary.
 

 

4. MAKE THEM WANT TO STAY! Have a fire place? Turn it on. Bake some cookies about an hour before their showing.  Leave all the lights on for the showing and make sure the heat is on. They don't want to go back out into the cold, they want to curl up by that fire and write a contract.  If you have to sell a vacant house, leaving the utilities on is a must.  Not only will it keep you from having your pipes explode without you knowing.  It allows people to spend more time in your house.  I spent one winter showing a client so many empty and vacant houses that didn't have heat and it was miserable.  He needed a house, so we were out, but being cold had us zipping through the house making quick decisions.  Give people a nice cozy place to really look at your home.

5. PRICE IT RIGHT! This isn't a winter tip. There is no winter or summer pricing.  I just add this to the list because its the most important thing.  You can dress your home up all you want, but if you aren't being realistic about what your home is worth then it wont sell. Pricing isn't an exact science. Sometimes we get it wrong. This is why you have to listen to the market.  Pay attention to what is happening.  If you aren't getting any showings (even in winter) you are grossly over priced.  If you are getting lots of showings and no offers, then you are still a bit off on price and really need to evaluate if there is something physically wrong with the property. Then does it need to be fixed or do you need to lower your price to compensate?  The winter time is not the time to "test the market."  If you want to hike up the price to see if you can get a bite, you will have better waters to test in the summer.  Listing in the winter needs to be realistic. Buyers aren't going to get in the car on a cold Saturday to say "well lets just go see, maybe the cabinets are lined with 14K gold?"


So with all that I say crank up the fireplace, get out those snow shovels, ice salt and absorbent door mats. Throw some cookies in the oven and a little winter carol on the radio and lets sell a house!!
You can always call me for more information and tips! Let's Talk!