Dawn Isenhower Sibcy Cline Realtors

I know that Fall and Winter are supposed to be the "off season" in Real Estate, but I think that there are some advantages to having your home on the market during those seasons. As someone who had a home on the market until after Thanksgiving several years ago, I have experience to back up my claims. Here are five reasons why I think that it can be good to list your home in the "off season":

1. The inventory of homes on the market is lower. You will not be competing against quite so many homes.

2. The buyers tend to be more serious about finding a home. Who else but the most serious of buyers would be touring homes out in the cold? (You may not get a big volume of showings, but most of them will be for real.)

3. Houses look fantastic when they are tastefully decorated for the holidays. (Not a time for a gigantic light display though, or for the inflatable Homer Simpson dressed like Santa.)

4. The homeowner does not have to worry about a great deal of yard work (after the leaves are cleaned up). Just make sure that the outside of the home is kept tidy and in good repair.

5. Changing leaves and snow cover provide for some fantastic pictures and views. (Just make sure that your realtor stays on top of updating the pictures when necessary so that it is not Fall in January.)

Why wait until Spring? The market is always open.

***Did I mention that you can do a lot of Christmas shopping while your home is being shown?