Winter may
be the right time to list your home
By TYLER WILSON/Special to The Press
| Updated 14 hours ago
As the temperature drops and snow
threatens, many home buyers and sellers think about punting their efforts to
Spring 2017.
Winter is often labeled the “slow
season” in real estate, but that isn’t always the case. In many instances,
sellers should embrace the opportunity of the cold weather market.
Kevin Cranston, a Realtor with
Coldwell Banker Schneidmiller Realty, said most people enter the home market
for individual reasons that aren’t based on the time of year.
“If you truly want to sell your
home, don’t be discouraged about heading into winter,” Cranston said. “There
are buyers out there, and if it’s priced properly, the home is going to sell.”
Cranston believes there isn’t an
“offseason” in North Idaho. He cited last year’s December numbers — 228 closed
sales in Kootenai County — as an example of opportunity on the market.
“Year to date closed sales are up
approximately 10 percent in Kootenai County, and I anticipate the trend to
continue during the winter season,” Cranston said.
To be clear — a winter market can
still be decidedly different than one in warmer months. In general, fewer homes
will be listed, and fewer shoppers will be canvassing the market. But many of
those extra springtime shoppers don’t necessarily translate into serious
buyers. Casual shoppers, like those who shop real estate for leisure or who may
not be 100 percent committed to a change, tend to take a break when the
temperature drops below freezing. With foot traffic, quality is better than
quantity.
While the market can be perceived as
slower, Cranston said there are advantages to listing a home in the winter. The
big one is the ability to take advantage of the reduced inventory.
“With fewer homes on the market,
there is less competition and more opportunity to get a higher sales price,”
Cranston said.
And even if you have fewer showings,
chances are good you’ll have better showings.
“Buyers that are going to take the
time to view are generally
better motivated, qualified and
serious buyers,” Cranston said.
Many homes also show better during
the wintertime too. Holiday lights can add an extra bit of elegance, and
there’s less concern about landscaping, lawn mowing and fighting off those
pesky weeds.
A number of new buyers enter the
market in the first quarter because of job changes too — people who are
especially motivated to take action on their living circumstances.
Cranston cites bustling online
activity during winter months as another reason for listing now rather than
later. Many websites see their highest online traffic in the winter.
“Most buyers start their home search
online, and if you’re not on the market this time of year, you can miss out on
that exposure,” he said.
Of all the things to consider, the
month on the calendar plays a relatively minor role in how well a property
performs on the market.
“There are really two reasons why a
home doesn’t sell — if it’s not priced properly or if it’s not getting the
exposure,” Cranston said.
For more information on winter
listing or the Kootenai County market, contact Kevin Cranston of Coldwell
Banker Schneidmiller Realty. Call or text (208) 818-4050 or email kcranston@cbidaho.com
Let us know about more standout
neighborhoods and developments that we may feature in an upcoming Neighborhood
of the Week. Contact Tyler Wilson at twilson@cdapress.com.
