Why a winter home sale is a smart move

You might be surprised to learn that putting your home on the market in winter is actually better than waiting for the main spring selling season. You’ll face less competition and take advantage of the prime spring property offerings to buy your next home. This means that you can be in your new home for Christmas.

Here are some of the most compelling reasons why you should put your home up for sale in winter.

Less competition from other sellers

You’ll find that you’ll have less competition from other properties because many sellers wait until spring to list their homes for sale. As spring rolls around, more properties will flood the market and this can make it difficult to stand out.

In winter, there are normally fewer properties available for sale which means that you’ll have more buyers competing for your home. Let’s face it, buyers who are serious about purchasing a new house aren’t going to wait for spring to start their search.

This gives you a major advantage to reach your ideal buyers without the competition from other sellers.

Winter buyers are serious about making a purchase

In general, open houses in winter only attract serious buyers who are often cashed up and ready to make a purchase. This eliminates all those visitors who are just curious about your renovations or the styling tactics that you’ve used to present your home.

When it’s cold and wet outside, you can guarantee that only those prospective buyers who are actually in the market to make a purchase will venture out to come and view your home.

Agents have more time to give your home sale undivided attention

While we are a boutique agency, meaning we provide a high-quality service and always value relationships and results over numbers, we do have more time in winter which, combined with fewer homes, will ensure a profitable sale for you.

Styling your home for a winter sale is important

To make a great first impression and ensure a quick sale in winter, here are a few top tips from stylists that you can use.

In winter, when it’s dreary outside, you want your home to be as cosy and inviting as possible. Make sure that you have the heating set at a comfortable temperature and light the fire if you have one.

You also want to ensure that your house is well-lit by turning on the lights and having dark corners lit with strategically placed floor or table lamps. Change the bulbs to ones with warm tones to create a welcoming atmosphere.

You can add to the ambience by using lots of furnishing accents such as throw rugs and cushions in warm fabrics on your lounge furniture and beds.

If you have any outdoor spaces, ensure that they look neat and tidy. Deciduous trees and plants can look a little bare in winter, so complement these with some smaller plants and flowers that actually bloom in winter to add a splash of colour.

Think about lovely flowering camellias in pots that you place strategically near your front door. Or fill a couple of hanging baskets with flowering annuals and hang these near the entrance of your home.

Get the timing right

Your agent can help you with getting the timing right for your open homes. Essentially, you want to try and avoid the school holidays in the middle of winter. Instead, time your campaign for either the beginning or the latter part of winter.

Selling this winter? Give HPA a call today

If you think that a winter sale might be right for you, or you have any questions, feel free to get in touch with us. We’ll be happy to discuss the benefits and give you some ideas on how to style your home for a successful and profitable sale in winter.