Selling in Spring? It Starts NOW, in Winter…
If you’re considering selling in spring, now is the time to start planning and preparing your property for sale. To get the best results, getting ahead of the game, and having important discussions with your agent about your marketing campaign, getting any outstanding maintenance issues sorted out, and property presentation early on will be critical.
Another benefit to listing your property in winter, is that once your sale strategy is planned, and you (quite literally) have your house in order, you will be ready to switch on your campaign at any time. So, if you decide to just go for it in Winter and get ahead of the Spring frenzy, you are good to go.
With that in mind, while keeping your options open, let’s explore the relative benefits of selling in spring, versus selling in winter, along with our tips to maximise your sale during each of these seasons.
Selling in Spring
Spring is generally accepted as the most favourable time to sell a property. We certainly see a rise in real estate listings and more buyers on the lookout.
Spring promises a new beginning. We feel good in spring, emerging from our homes to spend more time outdoors, we feel optimistic, and ready for something new. So, it’s no surprise that we see an uplift in property transactions in the season of blooming and growth.
Buyers have been waiting for spring, and they are ready to clear their calendars and book in as many open homes and auctions as they can for properties that meet their criteria, so you have a motivated and well-prepared pool of buyers.
Selling in spring brings the benefit of the busiest time of year in the real estate market. The sun is shining, gardens burst into life, your property can be shown to it best advantage, and the days and longer and sunnier. With more buyers and more traffic at open homes, yow will likely receive more offers, and the resultant bidding war can drive up that final selling price.
If you have an appealing garden and entertaining space, you throw open the doors and demonstrate how seamlessly your interiors flow to the outdoors. This gives the impression of space and give the sense of being a larger property. If you style your outdoor area well, it can be perceived as an extra area of living space, adding more value.
Spring buyers are often motivated to close a deal to allow them to move in before Christmas, so will be more likely to put in a good offer to secure your property.
Tips for Selling in Spring
- After a long winter of closed windows, especially following the very wet and damp period we’ve experienced, take advantage of dry sunnier days, and open up your doors and windows to let some fresh air flow through. It’s a fact that you start not to notice any musty spells that build up. Having a professional cleaning company blast through your property will also help to clear away the winter cobwebs.
- It may be a good idea to have a plumber check your property for any damp areas that can cause mould. Often, the cause of damp is a recurring problem, that can be resolved by re-routing storm water systems and drainage.
- Use lighter colours and fresh spring flowers to match the mood of the season.
- If you have a swimming pool, now is the time to open it up and make sure the whole area is clean and well-presented.
- If spring gets into its groove early, you will need to keep on top of your garden, which will start to grow prolifically.
- The spring sunshine will shine a light on your property and show up any cracks, flaws, and colour-fade, so you may need to spruce up the paintwork inside and out – and pay attention to windows, which will show up a build-up of winter grime on a sunny day.
To summarise selling in spring, it certainly is the busiest time, but there are also advantages to selling off-season. Now let’s explore selling in winter…
Selling in Winter
Selling in spring may expose your property to a bigger pool of buyers, but that also means more competition from other sellers. This means your buyers can be spoiled for choice and you and your agent will need to work harder to get attention over other listings. Selling in winter might mean fewer buyers on the lookout, but the ones that do make the effort are typically serious buyers, who are ready to buy and may feel a stronger sense of urgency to secure the right property. Winter buyers are not tempted out by the weather, but usually driven by need – for example; a relocation, or a change in financial or personal circumstances.
You will also find that smart investors, prefer to buy in winter when there is less competition, and so long as your property ticks all their boxes, and you negotiate well, investors can make great buyers and will move quickly.
Selling in winter can result in a higher price, simply due to the lower level of inventory, meaning buyers are less likely to try to reduce the price, assuming your home is priced accurately and is well-presented. Potential buyers are less likely to risk losing a quality home at a reasonable price when there are less options for them to choose from.
Depending on the style and features of your property, winter can be a good time to show how cosy and welcoming your home is, and this can be a clincher for some buyers. Also, people know that if they really like a property in winter, they are going to love it in the spring and summer.
Tips for selling in winter
Make your house feel cozy and welcoming – now is not the time to scrimp on the energy bills – make sure it feels warm and toasty, without going overboard and having your buyers overheating and desperate to get back out into some fresh air – remember, viewers will be dressed for the outdoors.
- Create an ambience of warmth with low lighting, candles, warm cushions and throws. If you have a fire, leave it on. A great tip is to remove any damp towels from bathrooms and replace with dry ones. Towels take a long time to dry in winter and can leave a faint damp smell that will be off-putting. You might want to go as far as brewing coffee or baking cookies before your open home, to leave a homely aroma in the air.
- Pay attention to illumination, as the winter light will be more subdued than in spring – especially on rainy or cloudy days. Try to get a good mix of ambient lighting to raise the general brightness of your home, augmented with warm feature lights to create that warm glow.
- Take a critical look at the exterior of your property. Things can look a little drab in winter at the best of times, so your paintwork might need freshening up – also make sure your garden and paths are clean and clear of leaves and winter debris. Gardens can look very messy in winter, so a little extra effort here will pay dividends in curb appeal.
For more tips on preparing your property for sale in any season, check out these two articles:
Selling your home is a big decision, which requires significant planning. Choosing when to sell your home is an important part of the process, which can affect the price you achieve and how quickly your property sells.
At Whitehaus, we believe the right time to sell is the right time for you, and the right market conditions, rather than the season per se. Location also plays a part – some suburbs are always going to attract buyers, no matter what time of the year.
So, put market trends aside and consider the following:
- What market forces are likely to affect your sale? For example – changing interest rates, or changes in lending criteria.
- When does your property come into its own and really shine? You know your property better than anyone and when it will be looking it’s absolute best.
- What financial needs of your own may affect the timing of your sale?
- Are you facing a rising or falling market?
It’s a good idea to seek out some expert advice to help guide you toward the right decision for you, which is ultimately what’s important.
For essential advice on how to choose the right selling agent, check out our article;
How Agency Selection can Make or Break a Successful Sale
So, back to prepping in winter for selling in spring
If you are prepped and ready to go in winter, ready for the spring market, but due to market forces and/or personal circumstances, you decide to sell earlier, your campaign can be turned on immediately, allowing you to steal a march on competitor vendors.
Planning ahead and being prepared allows you to monitor the market and launch your campaign at the optimum moment.
Talk to us about our unique SMART SALE methodology, which capitalises on market demand, by ensuring all buyers are genuinely competing for your property. Our ‘No Sale, No Fee’ GUARANTEE ensures you won’t risk any of your hard-earned money with upfront marketing costs.
