Brrr… ❄️ It’s getting cold outside! Winter’s coming and this weather makes everyone want to just stay at home and laze around - including home buyers and home sellers.

or most home sellers, winter is not a convenient time to sell a home. The cold weather makes your home feel gloomy and it’s time consuming to work on real estate deals during the holidays. People tend to get busy and buying a home isn’t just part of their Christmas plans, or is it?

If you are a seller who plans on selling your home this winter, don’t be disheartened by these hearsays as we are here to debunk 5 myths about selling your home in the winter.

Myth #1 - No one looks for homes in winter.

Reality - There are still buyers looking for homes during winter.

If a person really wants to buy a home, he/she will look for a home regardless of the season. Furthermore, buyers who will brave the cold weather and the busy holidays to find a home are eager buyers. He/She must be looking, despite the holidays, because he/she needs it now. You are more likely to close the deal with this kind of homebuyer. Who knows? Maybe you will actually be able to sell your home faster during the winter.

Myth #2 - The market during winter is unfavorable to sellers.

Reality - There’s less inventory during winter which makes it favorable to sellers.

Since the general knowledge among sellers is that winter is a bad time to sell your home, most people opt to avoid selling during this time. Hence, there will be fewer listings. This means that when you list your home during winter, there’ll be less competition. Buyers will have fewer options to consider which gives you higher chances to get a sale. So selling during winter can actually be favorable to sellers.

Myth #3 - It’s hard to stage your home during winter.

Reality - You can take advantage of the cold weather to make the place look homier.

Winter weather is gloomy. It’s cold and it’s hard to highlight the best features of your home because of all the snow and the lack of good lighting. But you can actually turn things around with just some creativity!

Use the winter weather to make your home more cozy and homey. When staging your home, bring out the blankets, throw pillows, and add some scented candles. Embrace the holiday spirit and incorporate them into your home decor. You can utilize the cold weather and the holiday season to make your place more home-like. It can help provide potential buyers with a glimpse of what it’s like to live in your home.

Myth #4 - Buyers are not that motivated to buy a home during the holidays.

Reality - The holidays are usually the time when people plan the next phases of their lives including owning a home.

Another common misconception is that buyers are not motivated to buy a home during the holidays. However, the reality is that winter is a time when less serious buyers and window shoppers leave the market and you’ll mostly find that only serious and highly motivated buyers remain. It is even more common for the whole selling process to be shorter during this season since the buyers you are most likely to encounter during the holidays are very eager to buy a house before the year ends!

It's also a time when people are planning their goals and plans for the next phase of their lives — including buying a new house!

Myth #5 - Real estate agents don’t work much during the winter months.

Reality - You’ll be able to get undivided attention from your agent since fewer people are selling.

Since there are generally fewer people selling in the winter, many real estate agents are eager to find more clients during this season. You’ll be able to get undivided attention from your agent — a stronger and more visible marketing effort, extended open houses, and they are available for a lot more days to meet with potential buyers.

Don’t let these myths get in the way of selling your house successfully during winter!

There’s a lot of opportunity to sell during the holidays that you probably won’t experience if you wait for spring — less inventory and competition, more serious and motivated buyers, more focused real estate agents, and a quicker sales process. Plus, you’ll have a chance to make your home look more warm and cozy!

Have you decided on selling your house this winter? Go for it! I’ll be there to help you every step of the way. Contact me at 250-804-9160 or send me an email at natasha@sellingsalmonarm.ca and I’ll be happy to help you sell your home before the end of the year!