“Sell now or wait for the spring & summer real estate market?”

Every year around this time, our clients often ask us this question. Of course, every house is different and the plan to market it will vary. Everyone’s goals are unique too. So the real answer is… it depends!

Here are a few things to keep in mind…

Less Competition

There are less buyers shopping in the winter months, BUT there are also less houses available for the buyers who want/need to move during this time of the year. Inventory will drop by over 50% which increases your odds of selling. LESS inventory equals LESS competition!

Buyers are More Motivated

While there are usually fewer buyers in the winter, the ones who are out house hunting typically want to close quickly.

Interest Rates Play a Role

When the interest rates are good, it means more buyers will be motivated to start shopping AND it means that more buyers will be able to afford your home.

Won’t my Home Show Better in the Summer?

We often hear that the landscaping won’t look as nice during the winter months. Yes, some homes do show better during the summer for that reason; however, there other features such as fire pits, fireplaces, holiday decor, radiant heating, etc that really highlight that cozy winter ambiance. You can even build a snowman outside to help the next buyers start envisioning their lives there.

If You Wait for it to get Green

Some of the strongest and quickest sales in our area occur in February, March and April. Would you consider that to be the “Spring Real Estate Market?” Perhaps March and April, but remember, the trees, the grass and the flowers in our area often do not start to hit their peak until the middle or end of May which means if you are truly wanting to wait for things to green up, you will not be hitting the market until the end of May or first part of June by the time photos are taken and your house is marketed.

The Big Picture

Generally speaking, the Northern Colorado Real Estate Market is strong throughout the seasons. We are blessed with over 300+ days of sunshine each year and our winters are really quite mild. This means that for MOST neighborhoods, it won’t make a big difference which month you decide to sell.

Wait.. you said, “Most”

Yes, MOST of our neighborhoods have good sales throughout the year; however, every neighborhood, every price point and every home is unique. That is why The Sall Team offers something very unique to our clients called, Visual Pricing. Visual Pricing allows us to get specific about what to expect if you decide to list your home during the winter months. For this, we look at over 2 years worth of data to see what the trends are for your specific neighborhood. For example, ”Do more homes sell in the summer vs the winter?” If so, “do they sell for more $$$?” If you are curious whether or not your neighborhood has a time to sell and if so, what you can do to increase your odds of selling, give us a shout and we are happy to show you the data!

Don’t Let the Winter Months Scare You!

All that to be said, Don’t Let the Winter Months Scare You! If you want to sell during the spring/summer markets, GREAT, but if you would like/need to sell during these chilly months, there can be some great advantages that you should consider.