In many parts of the country, conventional wisdom often dictates that the best time to sell a home is in the spring or summer. While the most productive selling season can vary by region and by market, many sellers strive to get their home listed during these months for the best shot at selling quickly – and for the right price. But what happens if clients need to sell their home during an off-season in your market? Here are some suggestions:
Make the price attractive.
With fewer potential buyers, setting a realistic price right out of the gate is a smart strategy to help attract interest.
Manage seller expectations around interest and the number of showings they might get.
There may not be as many showing appointments, listing viewings, or inquiries about the home as there might be in busier seasons.
Include videos in online listings.
Taking video footage will add an extra step to the busy pre-listing preparation, but could pay dividends in attracting interest.
Host a realtor open house to spur interest.
During the off season, you may get better attendance and you won’t be competing with a lot of other listings for attention.
Creatively advertise.
Look for seasonal avenues, such as holiday circulars and programs for sporting and performance events.
Play up the best features of the property in listing descriptions, photographs, and videos to drum up interest.
Remember, you may need to appeal to buyers who aren’t actively looking to purchase at this time.
Share the home on social media, and ask your friends and family to share, too.
Talk about the property at social and business events.
Keep former clients in mind. Let them know about the property in case they are interested or know someone who might be.
Add an American Home Shield® Real Estate Home Warranty to differentiate the property and reassure potential buyers.
The Seller Coverage Option gives your sellers and buyers valuable coverage at Real Estate Edition prices, including American Home Shield ShieldEssentialSM protection for major components of crucial home systems that can be the most expensive to repair or replace. In addition to important coverage for your clients, American Home Shield gives you a dynamic marketing tool that can attract interest and help smooth the negotiation and closing process.
The fact is that people need to sell homes throughout the year, and real estate transactions are completed year-round. Tell sellers not to be discouraged just because they may have missed the “best” selling window. With your guidance and expertise, a successful sale can happen in any season.
For more helpful tips from our partners at American Home Shield, check out their blog!