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Most real estate agents consider spring the ideal time to sell on the East Coast in a typical year. March through May is the sweet spot, while the end-of-year holiday season is more challenging. But as we all know, 2021 has been anything but ordinary. In a hot seller’s market in a highly desirable area, you can still get an excellent price for your home within a short timeframe. Hiring a skilled agent to walk you through the process can help ensure you get the best price and a quick turnaround–no matter what time of year you decide to list.
Timing Your Home Sale: Consider Your Goals
When you think about timing your home sale, consider your goals and restrictions. Are you going for top dollar and willing to wait for the right buyer? Do you need to sell quickly because of a job change or family circumstances? Are you dealing with an estate property with several heirs who want to cash in fast? The good news is you can often achieve both a high price and a speedy sale in a seller’s market. But even in a hot market, there’s usually a trade-off depending on your priorities.
Under normal circumstances, many sellers choose spring to list their homes. Lovely weather and spring flowers and greenery put your home in the best light. The curb appeal factor is at its best. Spring is also a favorite time for buyers looking to move in the summer to get ready for school in a new district. However, in a blazing hot market like ours, sellers who wait to list run the risk of a cool-down despite the usual springtime surge. In Northern Virginia, the real estate market has cooled off a bit since the super seller’s market this summer and early fall. Demand and prices remain high, but the fever pitch we saw earlier this year has normalized. That said, we can’t predict whether prices will drop in 2022 as more inventory comes online this spring and summer. So this year, winter may actually be a terrific time to sell.
What Are The Advantages Of Selling In Winter?
Despite the general wisdom in favor of spring sales, listing your home in winter has several advantages:
- February/March is the best time to put your home on the market. This time of year there is less competition than in the Spring (April/May), when most owners tend to put their house on the market.
- The market tends to slow down, so your agent often has more time to devote to your property.
- Inventory tends to be lower, and buyers have fewer options. So a fabulous home in a desirable location will still pull in a high price, especially in a seller’s market.
- Buyers who are home shopping in winter may be pressed for time and ready to pay full market value to get into a home fast.
How Should I Price My Home?
It’s very important not to overprice your home. That may lead to a price reduction, which doesn’t send a good signal about your property and typically results in getting less than if it was priced properly from the start. A savvy, knowledgeable realtor like Yvonne Holland has the experience to navigate this with you and recommend a solid starting price.
How Can I Market My Home For An Off-Season Sale?
It pays to work with a seasoned real estate agent, even in a seller’s market. If you’re planning to list your home outside of the traditional peak months of spring and early summer, an agent can help you market your home to get top dollar. Your agent has a complete and accurate picture of the market and in-depth knowledge of comparable listings. Knowledge and experience are your best defenses against lowball offers. If you’re blessed with multiple offers, as so many Loudoun and Northern Virginia sellers currently are, your agent can help you navigate the bidding process and choose the best offer.
The real estate market can be a wild ride and full of surprises. We can make generalizations about timing and other rules of thumb. However, we never know when things will shift, especially with pandemic and economic uncertainty looming in 2022. An experienced agent can bring needed clarity and vision into the picture. Yvonne Holland has the contacts, experience and in-depth market knowledge to sell your home for the most money in the shortest amount of time–no matter what time of year you sell. Yvonne’s innovative marketing strategies achieve the best possible outcome for all kinds of sellers under all kinds of circumstances. If you’re thinking of selling and have questions about timing, don’t wait to reach out. Let’s get a conversation started–now just might be a perfect time.
