Homeowners often have the idea that spring is the absolutely best time to list. Perhaps it's one of the prettiest times to sell their home, but in actuality, winter may be the perfect time to hammer that "For Sale" sign into the frozen ground!
There's a few reasons why winter is a great time to put up a "For Sale" sign.
- This year in the Hamilton, Ontario real estate market, the calendar flipped into 2014 with a lower than average inventory of listings. This listing shortage actually started months earlier and as the listings have become scarcer, the inventory of qualified buyers has done nothing but grow, creating a substantial demand. Even though January and February always seem like good months for sellers, this year looks exceptionally good simply because there's such a shortage of good, well priced listings.
- Winter is a great time to showcase expensive improvements to your home that may not be noticeable in the summer months. Maintenance items like weather stripping and caulking...or the lack of it, become extremely apparent when the snow is flying and the thermometer is dropping. Thermopane windows, insulated doors and the improvements you've made to your heating system and/or duct work that often get overlooked in warmer months, will tend to add more value, especially if you're being compared to homes that don't have these upgrades.
- Just like buyers like the coolness central air provides or the look of an in-ground pool on hot summer days, they also love the flames of a fireplace or the steaming hot tub in the winter.
- Curb appeal takes on a new meaning in the winter. Many times it's simply a house surrounded by and covered in snow, with no benefit of green grass, colourful gardens and lush shrubs. The flip side is your house isn't judged by your landscape. Even though you may have to make sure your sidewalks and driveway are clear of snow and ice, you won't have to worry about weeding your gardens, trimming your hedges or cutting your grass!
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