You’ve heard it: If you’re selling your house, you’ve got to list it in the spring…or maybe summer. But whatever you do, don’t list it in the fall or winter! It’s true, statistically, that more homes do sell in the spring and summer. But that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck if you want to sell your Dahlonega home in the winter.
In fact, there are lots of good reasons to put your home on the market in late fall or winter. Life changes—things like job transfers, divorces and marriages, aging parents’ needs, an empty nest when adult children move out—these events don’t know seasons. So, really, despite what the statistics say, the best time to sell your Dahlonega home is when your and your family’s personal situation tells you the time is right for you.
That said, there are actually some positives to selling your Dahlonega home in the winter. There won’t be as many would-be buyers in the winter months, but the people who are out looking for a house in the winter are more serious and motivated. They’re usually not just out there kicking the tires, so to speak. Plus, there aren’t as many houses on the market in the winter, so there won’t be as much competition from neighbors’ houses as there might be in the spring.
The best thing to do if you want to sell your Dahlonega home in the winter is to talk to the best REALTOR in the community. Get some informed, professional advice about making the most of your particular situation. When a winter listing is right for you, the following tips will help bring lookers to your doorstep.
- Show pride in your home. Dahlonega is beautiful in the spring and summer. People come here from everywhere to experience the breathtaking colors of autumn. In the winter, though, lawns can be brown and even the majestic hardwoods are bare and look lifeless. This doesn’t’ mean you have to settle for giving a drab first impression. Focus on details that prospects will notice and that show you have pride in your home.
- Start with your mailbox. Make sure it’s clean. If it’s dented or scratched up, get a new one. The post should be standing straight, not leaning. Paint or stain the post if it looks tired. Numbers on the mailbox should be easy to read day or night. Consider posting the address on the house, too, on the front porch or over the garage, for example, in numbers that match the home’s character and the mailbox, if possible.
- Tidy up outdoors. Since any grass is probably brown and most of the trees bare, it’s important for the landscape to be clean and crisp. Edge the ground cover at the street, driveway and walkways. Rake up all the fallen leaves, including the ones that have worked themselves into the shrubs and flower beds. Check out the gutters and roof—they should be clean, too. A filled bird feeder or two somewhere in the yard might even attract some colorful birds to delight your potential buyers.
- Chill on the outdoor cheer. Holiday decorations can be tricky, especially if you’re used to going all out. It’s trite, but true: Less is more. This year, you want tasteful, low-key decorations, such as an inviting seasonal wreath on the door and small, white, outdoor lights woven throughout the hedges. Generic winter themes are smarter than those highlighting particular religious or even secular “Santa” symbols if your goal is to sell your Dahlonega home in the winter. Remember, the more you de-personalize your home, the easier it will be for prospects to imagine themselves and their families living there. Oh yeah, be sure to take down any holiday dressings you do indulge in immediately after the holidays.
- Lighten up. With the early sunsets of winter in Dahlonega, you’ll probably have house hunters visiting your Dahlonega home in the dark. Well-lit walkways and bright porch lights will help lookers find their way to your door, make them feel expected and welcome, and help make their approach safe. Warm lighting inside your home that shines through clean windows, shades or drapes creates an inviting ambience from the street.
These suggestions should help you “season-proof” your home, and your Dahlonega REALTOR can give you more ideas. With a little extra time and effort, you can make as good of an impression on the outside of your property as on the inside.
And yes, you can sell your Dahlonega home in the winter.
