Business & Tech
House Hunt: Baby, It's Cold Outside!
Just because the temps have dropped doesn't mean that home sales stop. Take a look at these new-on-the-market listings and read about what makes a winter sale successful.
Looking for a new home in the winter is a good idea. Many people tend to start their search in the spring, so they can move in the summertime and avoid uprooting their children during the school year. But if you have the flexibility to move in the spring or late winter, this is a good time to start your house hunt. There are fewer buyers to compete with, and you’ll avoid the spring buying frenzy. Booking a mover will be easier, and you may just get a better price because of the lack of competition.
There are other advantages. When I was looking for my own home, it was shortly after a blizzard. A garage was on my “must have” list, and I noticed that, while the snow plows had gotten to the streets and people had shoveled the sidewalks clear, the alleys were still piled high with snow and were impassable. It took nearly two weeks for them to be cleared so people could get their cars out.
It’s something I wouldn’t have thought to consider if I’d been house-hunting in April or May. I ended up buying a home with a street-facing garage, rather than one that depended on alley access, and every time I see my neighbors unable to get to their cars, I am grateful to that blizzard for helping me make a better-informed decision.
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Another thing I noticed was that the people in my condo complex had matching wreathes and outdoor decorations. Not only did it look nice and inviting, but it told me that they were more than folks who happened to live in the same building, and that they were a friendly and cohesive group. That turned out to be true.
If you’re showing your home in the winter, be sure to play up the attractions of the season when potential buyers take a look: keep a cozy fire burning, have comfy pillows around, fold an afghan blanket over the back of the couch, have cocoa on the stove, and let the lights shine bright! You get the idea. Present your home as a warm and welcoming haven from the cold weather and gloom outside.
Find out what's happening in Oak Lawnfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
It’s also a good idea to have photos of your home in warmer weather around, showing the beauty of the spring and summer months. Show off your flower beds and manicured lawn, so your buyers will know what they have to look forward to.
Here are a couple articles for more information about winter listings:
