You have probably heard it before: Nobody buys or sells a home in the winter, right? Well, if you check the numbers, you will see they are snow joke - plenty of homes are sold during the coldest months of the year.
In reality, there are actually some pretty cool advantages to tackling the housing market while Jack Frost is nipping at your nose.
Hurry along, huddle up and come chill with us as we break down the pros and share our top tips for home selling and house hunting in the colder months without any winterruptions.
1. You will face less competition.
Come spring, more sellers will flood the market. This makes your home just another snowflake in a great big snow pile, shadowing its unique one-of-a-kind qualities. But, since most people think winter’s a bad time to sell a home, you will be facing a lot less competition in the colder months.
The number of houses for sale shrink dramatically in the colder months, so the general perception is that no one wants to buy a house at this time of year. However, people always need to buy houses. Life happens, and few manage to arrange their lives to fit so neatly into seasons. As fewer people do put their houses on the market in winter, if you choose to put your property up for sale in winter there is more chance of it standing out and getting the recognition (and price) it deserves.
2. Show off your winter cosies
There are plenty of practical things you can do to make your home attractive to potential buyers in winter. Stand back and see if there are any jobs around the house you can undertake in Autumn to make it more attractive and cosier. If you have a particularly efficient heating system, make sure this information is made available. Work out what you can do to deal with problems like condensation and keep the home well-aired.
In summer every house looks great, but winter gives buyers a chance to see how well the property performs in the wet and the cold. Winter gives buyers a chance to take in the mood and temperature of the property when it is rainy and cold. They will get a better sense of what heating there is or whether they will need to spend to get the warmth factor to the right level for them.
3. Tidy up your outdoor winter wonderland
As well as heating during viewings and open homes, buyers will inspect the garden when buying property in winter. Looking at the garden at the most difficult time of the year gives them an idea of how easy it really is to maintain. Ensure your trees and shrubs are pruned, lawns are mowed, and any rubbish is taken away. Weeds usually grow more slowly in winter – pruning early will help everything look nice and tidy.
As a buyer, take a walk round the garden and have a look at any surrounding trees. Are there ones that have dropped loads of leaves into a soggy mess, or are there trees which need to be trimmed or cut down to let in more low winter sun?
Winter allows you to also take note of privacy. Check out if any trees are deciduous and if, without leaves, you find the neighbours can see into your property.
4. Make sure there are no possible indoor icicles
Whilst we would always recommend our buyers get a robust building inspection before purchasing no matter the time of year, in winter it is easier to spot potential leaky building issues or temperature issues. You can see the effects of the windows being single or double glazed, whether there is a lack of insulation and how well-ventilated kitchens or bathrooms are.
As either a buyer or seller, make sure any insulation in the house is sufficient under the 2008 Building Code. Otherwise, as a buyer you may have to spend to upgrade it.
Chat with our friendly and knowledgeable conveyancing team about what to look out for, and how to put conditions in any offers you may wish to put forward on a property.
5. Talk to Godfreys
No matter the season, it is important that buyers review any builder’s reports or LIM’s with our experienced conveyancing solicitors to make sure that they are happy with the terms and conditions of the sale and purchase agreement. Godfreys Law can help ensure you are not left out in the cold when buying or selling your home.
Real people. Real solutions. Real winter is coming.
