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We
are selling our home and are unsure
whether we should bother keeping it on the
market during the winter months.
We
have always been under the impression that
spring is the best time to sell a home.
Can
you tell me if it is a good idea to keep
it on the market during the winter and
what the best approach would be?
Thanks!
-- Uncertain
Dear
Uncertain,
You have asked some really important
questions that are frequently asked by
sellers this time of year.
Most
people consider winter to be a bad time to
sell their home. BUT the one thing they
seldom consider is that if a majority of
sellers keep their homes off the market
until spring - there are fewer homes on
the market – and that reduces the
competition!
With this in mind – your home can
actually have an increased appeal and you
may have a better chance of selling!
Why?
Throughout the year, there are
“always” people looking to purchase a
home. Buyers may be relocating, sold their
home, or are ready to leave the rental
market.
If
there are fewer homes on the market, there
are fewer comparables – which leaves
buyers with fewer homes to choose from.
This reduces the competition &
increases your chances of selling.
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Considering
the cold weather, most buyers do not wish
to drive all over town to look at
properties for sale. Open houses have less
of an appeal, and sellers wonder how to
get buyers to look at their home.
A
great way to present your home for sale is
via the internet. There are tons of
virtual tour sites that will take photos
of your home, gather the details, and
present your home on their site.
Today’s
buyers are internet savvy and take
advantage of being able to preview homes
for sale before making the drive. After
viewing the property on the internet, they
are well informed which makes them a
quality lead.
Choosing
a virtual tour site may be a bit more
complicated. Some sites may want you to
send the photos and details to them. Some
insist you sign a contract, and some do
not offer the options you need to help
advertise your home properly.
When
you compare tour sites, make sure you do
not have to sign a contract, that they
will come take the photos and that they
have options such as printable flyers with
interior photos that you can print for
your info tube. Don’t just pick the
cheapest site. Ask a lot of questions, and
read their customer testimonials to be
sure others sellers were happy with their
service. The more testimonials – the
better!
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