A Conversation

Subject:  To Sell The House In Winter Months Or Wait For Spring…that is the question!

Potential Seller:  I think we will probably wait for spring to sell our house.  Because… well….you know…Christmas and the holidays are coming.  My wife’s in the process of baking, making cookies, decorating and wrapping packages.  The kids have school functions and Christmas pagents to attend.  We’re in and out with holiday parties, and we’ll  probably be going out of town too.  It’s a slow time of year for real estate anyway.  If we wait for spring we’ll have time to fix and repair a few things.  We think we’d like to wait for spring to put the house on the market — maybe April time- frame…..when the market is more active.   We’re just getting some ideas right now…..

Exceptional Realtor Who Cares About Seller:   What was the reason for considering the possibility of selling your house now and asking me to visit your home today?

Potential Seller:  Well, my wife’s company has relocated the office to Texas.  Her boss isn’t requiring us to move immediately, but I’m sure eventually the commute will begin to have a toll on her, and I’ll of course miss her when she’s in Dallas 3 or 4 days a week.  The kids will really miss her too!  Since I work from home, my company enables me to work from anywhere, so I can be here with the kids till we sell the house.

Exceptional Realtor Who Cares About Seller:  Here’s the reality of marketing and listing your home for sale in winter months.  You won’t get as many showings this time of year, so you aren’t likely to be inconvenienced too much.  Demand is down and people are also focused on Christmas and the holidays.  Regardless, there are people who must buy a home now!  Anyone who visits your home now IS motivated to make a move!  Since there are fewer homes on the market, there are fewer homes to chose from — which gives your home a better chance of being showcased and standing out among fewer homes on the market.  The people who visit your property now are the most serious buyers.  Since competition of homes on the market is significantly fewer, you don’t need to compete against as many homes for a showing and an opportunity for an offer. 

Exceptional Realtor Who Cares About Seller:  Do you think having more competition in the spring would make your listing price go up or go down?

Potential Seller:  Well.. I guess…It would probably go down with all the competition on the market…..

Exceptional Realtor Who Cares About Seller:  Based on numbers of bank-owned properties, foreclosures and short sales on the market….if you wait until spring, when there is a significant increase in properties on the market, do you think that will bring your property value and listing price up or down?

Potential Seller:   Well… probably it’ll go down as well…but we’re hoping that the market will be a little better in the spring.  But I agree with you.  It probably would behoove use to put the house on the market when there is less competition.  I can certainly see the value of having our house on the market now while the competition is down.  That does make a lot of sense.

Potential Seller: Right now there is only one other home on the market in our neighborhood.  They aren’t as updated as we are and they don’t have as many architectural details as we do, so I guess, I would rather be on the market now, before 4 or 5 of our neighbors put their homes on the market next spring.

Exceptional Realtor Who Cares About Seller:  The reality is if we wait until spring, it could potentially cost you thousands of dollars more to sell your home.  If during the holidays, you receive a request for a showing, I will take the inquiry calls and pre-qualify the potential candidate to insure they have the potential to purchase the property.  This will help to avoid having the inconvenience of unqualified people visiting the house during the hectic holiday season.  Only principle buyers will be granted a showing. The best thing is that when your house is dressed up for the holidays, that gets potential buyers excited about purchasing your home as they picture Christmas in their new home.

Potential Seller:   Let’s  put the house on the market.  I’d love to sell it before the market picks up and we have greater competition in the spring! 

Sara Hibbard is a licensed Realtor in the state of Georgia.  Sara is Glad Georgia Real Estate Is On Your Mind!  Sara Hibbard wishes you and those whom you love a joyous Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday season!  Sara welcomes your phone calls and questions during the holiday season regarding the Atlanta metro real estate market in general or specifics regarding the buying / selling process.  Sara Hibbard will also tell you that she has sold more homes during the months of November, December, January and February than any other months of the year.  Sara will also disclose to you that if and when she needs to sell her own house, she would prefer to do it in the winter months when there is much less competition.  Contact Sara Hibbard at 404-660-2481 or e-mail her at sara@SaraHibbard.com.