Traditionally, as the cold weather and snow take hold, the residential resale market slows. It’s no wonder, who wants to house hunt when it’s -20? But what if you need to sell now, does it matter when you list your home?

 

No matter what the time of year there are always buyers searching for homes. Corporate relocations take place year round, as do changing family needs. The key is to make your home stand out from the rest.

 

While the spring is traditionally the peak time of the year to put a home on the market, lots of other homeowners have the same idea, so the competition is high. Now that the streets are snow covered there may be fewer buyers shopping for a home, but there are also fewer houses listed. In addition, those looking for a home in the offseason tend to be motivated buyers rather than tire kickers, so it is more likely that you have serious buyers coming through your home.

 

The key to selling your home, no matter what the season is to price it competitively and make every effort to present and market it for the widest range of buyers. Houses sell at every time of the year.

 

Here are four ideas to help sell your home:

 

Competitive Pricing

 

Ensure your home is priced right for today’s market. While a neighbours home may have sold for a certain price in June, that doesn’t mean you will fetch the same amount today. It is best to compare your home to others that have sold in the past month in your community. Be sure to factor in its size, recent updates and access to amenities.

 

Move-in ready sells

 

While some people may think that new homebuyers might be looking for a project to put their personal stamp on the home, the reality is that buyers are looking for homes that are move-in ready. Our lives are busy, and most don’t have the time or ability to make changes after moving in. While they may be willing to paint to their personal preference, the new homebuyers aren’t willing to renovate a kitchen, replace the flooring, furnace, windows or roof.

 

Staging

 

The majority of buyers find it difficult to visualize how a home could look with their furnishings. The “wow factor” will play an important role in the sale of your home. Ensure you have prepared your home for sale as best you can. It should be cleaned from top to bottom, decluttered and repaired. Staging the home is the final step to help the buyer to dream about how the home might look if they lived there. This is a feature we offer any homeowners listing with HomesCalgary. If you are looking for ideas, check my Pinterest board showing before and after photos of homes I have staged.

 

Smart Marketing

 

The final step to selling the home at any time of year is smart marketing. Photos of the home must be professional, making the home look its very best. (Letting your agent take the photos using his smart phone is not good enough!) Smart, descriptive comments are also key, noting what makes your home unique. In addition to adding the listing to the MLS, it is important to use social media to boost its exposure.

 

At HomesCalgary we always use a professional photographer to get crisp, clear photos. We always stage the home to look attractive to prospective buyers. And we post your home on Facebook and Instagram to reach the widest audience. In addition, we make sure we notify other agents to ensure top exposure in the Calgary market. If you are considering listing your home now, call us for a no-obligation evaluation.

 

Have you sold a home in the winter? What strategies did you use to sell?