The Shocking Truth About Selling Your Home In The Winter

Selling your home in the winter is not everyone's idea of a good time. It is cold, it gets dark early and the general thought is that the house will not show well. Let's face the facts that the best time to sell a home is when inventory levels are at the lowest. That is in the winter. The most serious buyers will be shopping in the winter as why would anyone want to buy in the winter unless they need to?

So why should you not wait until Spring to sell? I know that the traditional selling season for real estate is in the spring as people get spring fever. Yes, typically there is more buyers in the spring, but there is more sellers too. More competition for you and your home. If you want to sell your home, and if you are ready to go....why wait? There are serious buyers out and about in the winter even if there is not as many as the spring time. With less competition it is an awesome time to sell.

Deciding to sell now or wait is an individual decision that should be made because you are ready, not a misguided assumption that selling now is not a good time. The general thought is everything looks better in the spring and my home will not show well now. Another thought is I will get less for my home. This is simply not true. In fact there are lots of homes sold in winter and top dollar is usually paid. For a savvy home seller this is the perfect time to find a buyer that needs to purchase a home.

One more reason for winter selling is you have fewer showings to deal with and the showings you have are with more serious buyers. This is much better then having lots of showings to the "just thinking crowd"

This all said the best time to sell is when you are ready to sell. No matter the season. What is right for your goals, family and for yourself is the time to sell. You  are in the driver's seat, when you are ready, just GO FOR IT!!

Monday Morning, chin up!

Happy Monday! I hope you had an AMAZING weekend! As always I like to start the week off with some positive words of inspiration...

 

Jim Rohn is one of my favorite people to listen to and study... I saw this quote from him, which I absolutely love and wanted to share:

 

"If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much."  

 

That is a heavy quote.... We must get intentional about our lives otherwise they will not turn out the way we want... Get clarity, live everyday intentionally and go create the life you know you want and deserve!

Mistakes Buyers Make When Purchasing a Home in Peterborough, Selwyn or City Of Kawartha Lakes

Mistakes happen. Here is 5 easy mistakes people make all the time and how to avoid them.

OREA REPORT: Compared to one year ago, local real estate markets are stronger say a growing number of Ontarians

First Sled Ride of the Year

Well, it was a long wait, but we finally got out. We dropped at the parking lot outside of Bobcaygeon by the Young's Pit Road. We rode the B103 for the day. We ran up the Haliburton and turned back to Fenelon Fall. We stopped to have some lunch in Fenelon. From there we went back to the trucks. We ran 162km for approx 3-4 hours. It was great to get out. The trail was smooth but the snow was thin. Any melting and that will be it for the trail until we get more snow.

5 Little known Factors That Could Affect the Sale of Your House and Getting Top Dollar

Factor #1~ Making decisions with emotions

Selling you home is a business transaction for you and your family.  In business transactions, for you to be at your best, emotion must be left behind.  Very easily said to remove emotion, as this is where you undoubtedly created many memories, so removing emotion is difficult to do. But look at the transaction from a purely financial perspective and you will come out on top.

Factor #2~ Setting an unrealistic price

Setting a price on your house is very difficult but setting the right price is key.  Again, this must be done without emotion.  The price needs to be set with data, market knowledge and common sense.  Buyers have the same information you do and are very educated.  Overprices properties do not sell.  Don’t worry too much about setting a price that is on the low side because, in theory, this will generate multiple offers and the price gets bid up.  In fact, some people under price their home as a strategy to generate extreme interest, quick sale and get top dollar.

Factor #3~ Expecting to get your asking price.

Every buyer will negotiate with an offer.  You will have to play the game.  You will want to list your home at a price that will attract buyers while leaving enough room to negotiate.  This will allow a buyer to feel good about getting good value and allow you to get the amount you need from the sale.

Factor #4~ Not prepping your home for sale and viewing

Sellers who have dirty, packed or unorganized homes are throwing money away.  Not addressing these issues will not only reduce your sale price, but may prevent you from selling at all.  Have a friend or Agent with a fresh outlook point out areas of concern.  You may have become immune to its trouble spots.  Making a good impression will only put money into your pocket.

Factor #5~ Not hiring a good Agent

Real Estate agents are costly (usually 5% of the sale price of your home) but trying to sell it on your own is ill advised.  Usually For Sale By Owners are dealing with unqualified buyers, low offers or no offers at all.  Most qualified buyers use an Agent.  Good Agents have experience in negotiating, dealing with the contracts and paperwork as well as solutions to deal with issues that crop up during the selling process.

Conclusion~

Be prepared for this mentally stressful situation. It is tough selling a home.  Make it easier on yourself and family and avoid these common pitfalls of selling your house.