Should I Sell My House in the Winter?

Should I Sell My House in the Winter?

The endless Winter of 2013. The memories of 100 inches of snow, bitter cold and paralyzed communities still linger as we face the Winter of 2014. Last year, the real estate market struggled to keep the positive momentum from the earlier months due to vacant homes being inaccessible due to snow, power outages, terrible weather and driving conditions, inability to properly inspect homes and more. The affects were not completely detrimental, but did affect the market.

So now, I’m being asked as we begin the winter months this year “Is now a good time to sell?”

The answer to this question whether it is winter, summer, spring, or fall is, “It is a good time to sell when YOU are ready to sell.”

A wise stock investment advisor will tell you not to try to time the market if you ask if now is a good time to invest in stock. It is similar in the real estate market. Timing is always changing and rarely predictable. The best way to know when to sell is to ask yourself if you are ready to sell.

Is the house ready? Are you ready for showings to happen? Are you wanting or needing to move? The right time to sell is when you are prepared and ready. This time of year with the holidays can be stressful and busy enough with extra guests and parties in many homes. So perhaps staging a home for sale is not a wise idea. On the other hand, if you are out of the house much of the month, can maintain a clear path to the home in case of snow, and the inventory is low in the area the timing could be great for you to put the house on the market.

Your intentions for selling is the greatest decision maker when it comes to putting a home on the market. A real estate advisor like one of us at Spica Real Estate can further educate you on current market inventory and trends to help solidify your decision.

In the end, the Winter of 2013 did not get the better of us, and the same will hold true in 2014. Whether rain, sleet, snow, wind, or sunshine – real estate will still move. It is up to you to decide what is best for you, your property and your situation.