While spring is the uncontested favorite season for homebuying and selling, strategists shouldn’t discount winter as the off-season. In many markets, data reveal that the winter months yield sales that are faster and more often above list price than summer and fall, making winter the sneaky second-best time to sell.
How could this be the case? Here are four reasons why homes listed in winter pay off for their sellers.
1. Lone fish in an empty pond: Since most sellers will list their homes in spring, the supply for buyers looking in winter will naturally be low, both reducing the pressure for sellers to compete and helping to keep prices aloft.
2. Serious buyers brave the cold: While warmer, temperate weather makes home shopping in the spring a more enjoyable activity, buyers who commit to showings in cold, snowy weather are rarely just window shopping. If they see what they want, they are more likely to make a decision.
3. Bonus season: Winter is often the season in which employees receive end-of-year bonuses, and the additional cash on hand can make would-be buyers more confident in their ability to make an offer.
4. Buyers get to see weather features in action: If the winter is particularly punishing where you’re listing, it could be a great opportunity to show off weatherized features that can make the season more bearable.
