Should You Considering Holiday Listing?
With December here and the Holidays coming ever nearer, I am often asked questions about the Chatham, Ontario real estate market. Clients want to know whether or not they should list their homes now, following the New Year, or wait until spring arrives. Historically, holidays would be a poor time to list homes, yet in this era with the internet, busy lifestyles, and supply and demand, the don’t-list-during-the-holiday rule no longer is relevant. Now, I advise clients based on the current Chatham real estate market and client’s situation. Here is some advice to keep in mind for holiday listings.
Online Listings
Generally, the holidays seem too crazy a time to add house hunting to social events, cooking, shopping and family gatherings. Now with the Internet, however, as well as smart phones and tablets, Chatham, Ontario real estate has entirely changed. Listings are available anywhere, at any time, and constantly updated. Also, regardless of lifestyle, if buyers are watching the market on their smartphones, your home could quite possibly be available for their watchful eye.
Decreased Competition
Though the Chatham real estate market has gained accessibility with new technology, it is still a common belief that holidays are a bad time to list. This decreases the number of homes on the market. Also, homes that have been on the market for a while without success will use the holiday season as a break from the market to start fresh in the New Year. Every year, these two factors lower inventory numbers on the market.
If you’re motivated and flexible with a great home, then the fall-winter selling season may be to your advantage. Fall allows the window for buyers to get into the home before the onslaught of winter. Not only this, but buyers hunting the market online will be happy that a good home has finally been listed.
Time To Change Tactics
Buyers see homes that have been listed in Chatham real estate for long periods of time to be stale or overpriced. They will skim right over it, ignoring the quality and competition.
If this happens, I take action and change tactics. This is the season to lower the price in order to encourage a sale, or else change something that has been acting as an obstacle for the sale. This shows buyers that you’re serious about selling your home, giving you a spotlight for motivated buyers.
January Listing
The belief of hectic holidays is there for a reason: sometimes they are too busy. To make your schedule around open houses can be too much to handle in an already crazy time of year. Sometimes, too, buyers or sellers go on vacation. In these cases, listing in January would be a smarter option.
As most sellers on the Chatham, Ontario real estate market prefer listing in the warmth of spring, there still isn’t much competition in the dead months of January. Yet, I am constantly receiving calls in January from clients looking to buy, fulfilling motivations from New Year resolutions. The January market is definitely one to consider.
If you’re looking for a navigator for the Chatham real estate market this holiday season, contact me at 519.360.0141.