Many sellers think spring is the best time to put their homes on the market because there are usually more buyers out at that time of year. What they don’t often consider is that every other homeowner is thinking the same thing, which means they’ll have the most competition.
We recently had our first snowfall of the winter here on the Island, and it was beautiful. But you may be thinking buyers don’t want to tromp around in the snow to look at properties. Well, I’m here to tell you otherwise.
The buyers who are out looking in the cold and snow tend to be very engaged and serious. You will be much less likely to be inconvenienced by those casually looking during their summer vacation, for when they are “some day” ready to make their Martha's Vineyard investment. You may be surprised at how often that happens during other times of the year. In the winter, the “lookers” are staying warm at home, online!
The second reason to list your home in the winter is there’s less competition. Many agents here on the Island encourage their sellers to take their homes off the market in the winter so they will be “fresh” in the spring and have less Days on the Market. This means inventory here is at its lowest point, so the options buyers have are more limited.
The ‘sweet spot’ for listing your house to get the most exposure happens at the start of the New Year. When spring rolls around, temperatures aren’t the only thing that rises. So do the number of listings. Don’t wait for all of the competition to show up before you decide to put your home on the market.
If you are considering selling, take a look at our Marketing Guide here. The printed version is available as well – reach out if you’d like us to send it to you.
ALSO, for more information on how we can help you sell your Vineyard property, visit our Selling page.
If you’ve been thinking about whether or not to sell your home or are curious about the market conditions on the Island, contact The O'Hanlon Group today.
