Think spring and summer are the best times to put your home on the market? Think again! Despite the decrease in temperature, the advantages of selling your home during this frigid season increase! Here are the top six benefits of selling your home in the colder months.

1. Less Competition 

First and foremost, you can look forward to less competition from other home sellers. Because sellers often believe it’s best to sell in the warmer months, they opt to wait until spring or summer before listing. This is good news for you as you can look forward to a less diluted market.

2. More Serious Buyers 

When Calgary temperatures drop to well below freezing, it’s unlikely you’ll have many prospective buyers heading out to “just browse”. This rings especially true around the holiday season where money tends to be a little tighter. This means more motivated, serious buyers and fewer showings for uninterested parties (less stress for you!).

3. It Looks Good

Speaking of showings, did you know home staging tends to look better in the winter? In addition to a fresh layer of snow outside and maybe even a few well-placed Christmas lights, the interior of your home can easily benefit from a few fuzzy throw pillows, some warm blankets and, if you have a fireplace, a cozy fire. Warm smells such as baking, cloves or cinnamon also add an appeal that’s hard to top any other time of year. 

As an added bonus, you won’t have to worry about continuously mowing and watering the lawn, pulling weeds or planting flowers. Just be sure to clear your sidewalk!

4. Quicker Process

Less competition, serious buyers and fewer showings often mean a quicker sale. Buyers during this time of year tend to be more pressed for time either due to the sale of their own home or because, let’s face it, house hunting in the winter isn’t fun. This leads to less haggling, more flexibility and, in some cases, selling above asking price. 

5. A Higher Return On Upgrades

In Calgary especially, upgrades or replacements made to furnaces, hot water heaters, thermostats, in-floor heating etc. are likely to appeal to buyers far more in the winter. New windows and insulation are also popular choices as they make your home more energy-efficient and more attractive to buyers wanting to save on their utility bills. 

6. The Rules Are Changing 

Did you know Canada’s mortgage rules are changing? Effective January 1st, 2018, anyone wishing to put 20% or more down on a new home will be subject to a mortgage rate 2% higher than their contract rate. As a result, any buyers looking to do away with mortgage insurance may not be able to afford as much as they previously could in 2017. For this reason, winter of 2017 may be the best time to buy. 

In short, there are plenty of reasons why winter trumps spring and summer when it comes to puttin’ your home on the market, so why wait? Keep warm and happy selling!

Photo credits: winter house, red house

Author: Jeff S.

Proud father and husband. Loves music, Nine Inch Nails, UFC and inbound marketing.