Out In The Cold and Through The Snow..To Sell Your Home I Go

Aww... the time of year when the aroma of pumpkin pies fills the air, families are in town, holiday decorations go up, shopping and parties start and having your home on the market seems like a silly thing to be doing.

Many sellers believe that all buyers just stop looking during the holidays and winter months and others just don't want to be 'show ready' during this time of year. These are just two of many reasons why sellers believe taking their home off the market this time of year Well hold onto your winter hats because I am going to share some thoughts that just might surprise you. 

•  Yes many of us get focused on family and festivities and yes sales do drop off a bit in the winter and holiday season. However, November and December sales are only about 25% lower than the monthly average for the entire year. That means 75% of the buyers are still out there looking.

• The quality of buyer is higher . If someone is out in the cold, the snow and winds house hunting then they are definitely serious about buying a home. If I get a call the weekend of Thanksgiving from a buyer wanting to look at homes you better believe that I know that buyer is really serious. If your home is off the market then I can not add it to my show list.

•  But Martha I am concerned about the days on market. Back in the day when homes were flying off the market and there was a home was on the market for a long time, that home could become stigmatized as having something wrong with it and yes it could hurt that sellers ability to get top dollar. But todays buyers think differently. They still ask me how long a home has been on the market but the reason they ask is entirely different. In todays market a newer listing is looked at as a home where the seller will be less likely to negotiate and have less motivation to sell. A home that has been round awhile is now looked at by buyers as a more motivated seller. A seller who will consider negotiating more seriously. That means keeping your home on the market during the holidays may actually be in your favor. You won't be inconvenienced by a lot of showings (just serious ones) and because you have been on the market a few more days could actually inspire a buyer to write an offer.

• Well what about taking it off the market and putting it back on in the spring? After all the spring market has to be better than now and we could probably even get a better price. Well, there is no guarantee that prices will go up come spring. We are still in a fragile but recovering market after all. And spring brings more competition and home options for buyers which could be tougher on you than keeping your home on the market now.

• Some sellers argue that their homes will show so much better in the spring and summer months. Yes it is nice when the grass is green and the flower gardens are popping with color and it sure is easier for me to show your home in warmer months. After all, wearing snow boots and sloshing through the cold to find the cold lockbox to get the key isn't my favorite thing to do but there is also something to be said about a home that is oozing the warmth of holiday decorations or the smells of winter cooking and/or the extra warmth of a fireplace that makes it all so worth it. This time of year also reminds a buyer of the real reason they are buying a home. A place to make those special memories with family and friends. After all, winter is when we snuggle in and wrap our home around us.