Selling your house in January? Here are some helpful tips!

1. The winter weather can work in your favor! There are 23% less homes being sold in the winter months which means less competition for you! Also, in warmer places like Florida or Texas, the winter weather is a nice break from the hot weather that occurs most of the year. Therefore, people are more likely to go out and view homes during the winter months.

2. List your home at the right price. Because January isn't a high selling month, you want to be careful not to price your house too high or too low. Buyers may assume that because you are selling your house in the winter that you are desperate to sell. Be patient, you can always take your home off the market and put it back on in the spring when the market is a little better. You can also price your house slightly lower than comparable homes in your area which will bring in more offers and may even lead to your house selling for more than the listing price.

3. Know which type of people typically purchase homes during the winter. People change jobs, PCS with the military, get divorced, and have all kinds of other life events that can lead them to needing to buy a house. For those of us in the South, there are also "snowbirds" that like to come down to escape the northern cold, and may be in need of a home.

4. Understand your local housing market. Understanding your specific market will help ensure your house doesn't stay on the market too long. It is a good idea to use a comparative market analysis (which your Realtor can get for you!) to make sure your house is priced accurately and competitively. Also note whether your market is favoring buyers or sellers. In a buyers market, expect to have your home on the market longer, versus in a sellers market, you can expect more competitive offers which will lead to your home selling more quickly and at a higher price.

5. Give your house some winter curb appeal! Shovel the snow off of your sidewalks and light the path to your house with some outdoor lights. Inside, light some sweet smelling candles and put some cozy looking throws on your couch. Also, make sure you take down your holiday decorations! It's January, let it go! :)   Lastly, turn up the heat to a nice, desirable temperature so that potential buyers feel warm and toasty!

These tips may or may not be applicable depending on where you live, but a licensed real estate agent can help guide you and get your house sold!

If you happen to be in the Florida panhandle area, or are looking to move to the area, give us a call! But even if you aren't in our area, we would be glad to help you find an agent in your area and get your house sold! You can find our contact information here!