Why it's Not A Bad Idea to Sell Your Home in the Winter.

I know what you're thinking.  "Come on man, everybody knows that Spring and Summer are the best time to sell your house."  I hear you.  But while Spring and Summer are typically the busiest seasons for home sales there are some advantages to selling in the winter that you may not have thought of.

Think about it, if you are trying to sell ANYTHING would you rather have more or less competition?  I bet your answer is "well, less of course!"  If it wasn't, it should have been!  Less competition means that you have put your home on a proverbial pedestal for all the home buyers to see.  It really boils down to the basic economic principle of supply and demand.  When supply (homes on the market) is down and demand (home buyers) is high, that could mean good things for you and your pocket.  You could end up selling your home faster and for more money!

"Well that's all fine and good, but there are no buyers in the winter."  I'm glad you brought that up! That may have been true back before technology made it possible to search for homes from the comfort of your own home while sipping hot chocolate.  Yum, hot chocolate...sorry I trailed off their for a second.  Back to it.  Today 94% of home buyers start their search online according to an article from the National Association of Realtors...94%!  That means that cold weather will not stop a home buyer from searching for YOUR home on their computer or mobile device no matter the temperatures outside.  And if you think about it not only are people searching for homes in the winter, it would make sense that more serious buyers are looking in the winter.  I know that I wouldn't get all bundled up in a coat, hat, scarf and gloves to go to an open house or viewing unless I was serious about finding a home.

Putting your home on the market in the winter with less competition can truly put your home in a great position to be sold faster and for more money.  There are serious buyers out there in the winter and the season is not going to stop them from jumping at the opportunity to buy your home.  Don't let the off-season scare you away from selling your home.

Why You Need a Buyer's Agent

With the abundance of real estate technology out there these days, it may make you wonder "why do I even need a real estate agent?"  While these sites and apps may make you feel like you have this home buying thing down, there is a lot more to it than just finding the location of a new home.  Individuals still need a professional to help them through the transaction process and all other aspects of buying a home.

I have put together a list of reasons buyers need representation, as well as some of the benefits an agent provides to their client.  This of course should not be considered an exhaustive list but more of a Top 5 if you will.

1. No Cost to You!

That's right! No cost.  In almost all cases the seller will be the one to pay the commissions.  I mean, I could probably stop the list now.  This should be reason enough to have representation.  You can hire a professional who knows the entire process backwards and forwards, has your best interests at heart, and will guide you the whole way...and you pay them nothing!

2. Negotiating the Deal.

A great buyer's agent will fight hard for you to obtain the best possible deal.  There are a lot of factors in negotiating a purchase agreement.  Probably the most important to most buyers is of course price, but there are other things that can be negotiated.  Such as date of possession, inclusion of repairs and furnishings, just to name a few.  There is no replacement for a great agent negotiating on your behalf to make sure you get what you want and you don't pay too much for it.

3. Maneuvering Through Potential Hazards

Having an agent on your side while you traverse the sea that is home buying can be indispensable.  Remember they have been here before and can often sniff out problems before they arise.  A great agent will search for potential pitfalls, before you have a chance to step off the edge of that pit.  Let's face it most real estate transactions have hitches, some more than others, but doesn't it make sense to have someone on your side to make sure you don't land yourself in a deep financial and stressful pit.  Of course it does, and did I mention they do this at no cost to you..(See reason #1.)
 

4. Market Knowledge

Real estate agents have access to a wealth of recent market data.  Because of this, a great agent will be able to give you realistic purchase prices based on this information.  Why should you care?  Because you don't want to end up paying more for your home than all the other comparable homes in the neighborhood do you?  Of course you don't!  A great agent will scope out what other comparable homes in the neighborhood has sold for over the last several months to make sure you don't end up paying more than you should.   

5. Buyer's Agents Work For You

When you contract with an agent they are legally bound to work for your best interest.  That truly offers you an incredible amount of leverage in your home buying endeavor.  Some buyers think that if they call the agent on the sign they will get a better deal but most of the time this couldn't be further from the truth.  Think about it, the agent on the sign has contracted with the SELLER to help sell their home and consequently has the SELLER'S best interest at heart.  So why not bring your own agent to the table to fight for your best interests.  

If you are still reading this thank you for sticking with me and making it this far.  As you can see, whether you are buying your first home, upgrading or downsizing, having a great agent on your side just makes sense.  And did I mention they do this at NO COST to you!

Wow! My very first blog post...

Hello everyone!  My name is Nathan Smith and I am a Realtor in the Triad area of North Carolina.  I have lived in this area of North Carolina my entire life and I just could not imagine living anywhere else.  I love my state and I love helping my fellow North Carolinians buy and sell their homes.

I wanted to start this blog to provide relevant information for buyers and sellers about the real estate market and how to be better prepared for the journey of buying or selling a home. Having a great Realtor can be a valuable asset in many ways and I hope to provide information to show you just how beneficial having a great Realtor can be.

So, with that my first post is done...whew! Please connect with me on the following social media outlets.

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