Getting Ready to Sell Your Home in Winter: What You Need to Know
Selling your home in the winter real estate market may seem undesirable to some, but it has an upside. Let’s break down some of the advantages that actually make the cold dreary season a potential win for sellers.
Ottawa is in a Seller’s Market.
Regardless of the weather, listings that are on the market are getting the attention of buyers, there is just not enough inventory to keep up with the demand. Current active inventory is less than half of 2015-16 [October 2018]. Compared to last year, condo inventory is down 34.5% while residential inventory is 17.5% lower than October 2017. One of the most affordable cities in Canada, Ottawa is still attracting buyers even as the cold rolls in. Residential average prices up approximately 6% year over year, yet under $450,000. If now is a good time for you to sell, it’s a great time to take advantage of Ottawa’s fast-paced real estate market.
Buyers are more serious.
Most people don’t find joy in dawning winter-wear and bracing cold icy roads and weather just to check out the real estate market on a lazy Sunday. Additionally, with fewer properties listed for sale, there is less competition, making it easy to stand out in the neighbourhood. Keeping up with yard work and weeding gardens doesn’t pose a problem, and stringing some warm lights around the outside of the house gives some extra curb appeal that you don’t see in the summer months.
To ensure you take full advantage of the season and get the best offers, here are a few things to take into consideration to make your home really stand out in winter:
Accessibility matters.
During the winter months, sellers are posed with demonstrating accessibility to the home and all of its amenities, even if that means shoveling through a few feet of snow. By clearing pathways to the front door, mailbox, garage, and road, you demonstrate that the home is well cared for, both inside and out, and additionally display the ease of access to the property in removing visible physical barriers from the eye of the potential buyers. Additionally, marking property boundaries gives a clear idea of yard size when snow is covering up natural markings. Clean and Bright.
Winter can be beautiful! The white snow blanketing the ground makes everything look clean and bright. Mirroring the fresh outdoor atmosphere, inside the home, can also make a world of difference. Open the curtains and let the whiteness of the snow and the sun shining add natural light and beauty to your space. Clean your surfaces and windows well to add an extra sparkle. Additionally, no one likes dirty snow melting off boots leaving salt stains all over clean front door mats; keeping the clutter of big winter boots and gear tucked away and providing weather appropriate mats for home buyers to place boots on will add to the overall freshness of the in-home atmosphere.
Keep the home warm.
While many of us like to adjust the temperature of our homes to best suit our daily needs, frugality is not at your advantage when selling in a winter market. Buyers are coming into the home from the cold; in keeping the thermostat up to make sure home viewers are warm and comfortable invites them to stay longer, and lets them see the home as a welcoming, cozy environment. A smart thermostat can help by letting you bump up the temperature remotely before a showing with a click of a button on your smartphone (another way to appeal to buyers!). Another tip: warmth is not just achieved through a thermostat temperature. Decorating your home with blankets, throws, accent pillows, or baking nice spice cookies to serve gives a warming aura that is sure to not go unnoticed.
Curb Appeal.
One advantage the winter has over the summer is the chance to decorate your home with lights and greenery. Incorporating warm seasonal lights on the exterior of your home, and adding wreaths and garland to doors and window frames adds for an extra pop of seasonal beauty; it is sure to catch the eye of passers-by who may be interested in homes in the neighbourhood, and gives buyers an idea of how beautiful the inside of the house will likely be if the outside is so well cared for and decorated.
While keeping away the winter blues may seem difficult in January once the holidays are over, it is important to not let that reflect on the interior or exterior of your home when listed on the winter real estate market. Keeping a sense of freshness, cleanliness, and warmth is key to showing viewers that the home is well cared for even when weather may restrain us. The advantages in this time frame are at an abundance, so it is important to play into that and market your house the best possible way.
In following these steps, showing the appeal to the home, and selling outside of the peak season can be just as attainable and less tiring than trying to sell selling in a market with much more competition. If you have any questions about when the best time is for you to sell, reach out to us, or your real estate agent for advice and sell your home with comfort and peace of mind. Home is who we are!