Ask Kevin: Is it a bad idea to sell a house in winter?

Tuesday, 3 July 2018

Ensure the house is warm and dry during any open homes or other viewings.

My wife has recently scored her dream job in Auckland and we are packing up our lives and kids to move there. We had been thinking about moving up there eventually anyway to be closer to family, so this is just speeding up those plans a bit. We will be facing life on one income for a while and – mindful of Auckland property prices – we need to sell our Wellington home so we can start afresh. However, we keep getting told by friends and family that no one sells a house in winter and that we'd be better off waiting until the spring or summer. That may be so, but we need to sell ours now. Are we making a big mistake or is it possible to sell your house in winter without tears?

Several years ago some friends of mine bought a house in one of Wellington's southern suburbs in the height of summer. By the time they moved in the days had already begun to get shorter and they realised, to their horror, that their new home was not the suntrap that they'd imagined. In fact, for most of the year it received barely any sun at all. They eventually sold the property and swore that they'd never buy a house in summer again.

Selling a property in winter may seem to go against received wisdom, but there are plenty of reasons why it can be a good idea. In your situation, it's because the timing is right for you and your family. That's a powerful and compelling reason that shouldn't be ignored, no matter what well-meaning friends might say.

In addition, there are several other, more tangible upsides to selling in winter. Firstly, there are often fewer houses on the market so there's less competition. Your property is less likely to be lost in a swarm of listings and it will be easy to make it stand out. People who are looking to buy at this time of year are usually highly motivated because they need a home sooner rather than later. The upside of this is that you may get fewer tyre-kickers than in the warmer months – and increased demand will often result in higher prices.

**READ MORE:

Kevin Lampen-Smith: 'There are often fewer houses on the market so there's less competition.'

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If you're selling your property with a real estate agent, you need to mine their experience. When you're choosing an agent, ask them how houses in your area sell over the colder months. It's in their interests to make sure the sale of your property is as advantageous as possible; if they think you'll be better off waiting a couple of months, they should tell you. They should also work with you to work out the best times to hold open homes or viewings, taking in account shorter sunlight hours.

You want your property to look attractive, inviting and easy to look after – and there are plenty of practical steps you can take to make it seem an attractive proposition on a cold winter's day.

Now's the time to fix any leaks, cracked windows or sticking doors or broken drains. All the usual rules for preparing a home for sale will apply - your buzzwords should be decluttering and deep-cleaning. If it has good insulation and an efficient heating system, make sure these factors are included in any marketing. Ensure the house is warm and dry during any open homes or other viewings – don't overdo it though, no one wants to live in a sauna! Don't forget that people will want to look around the outdoor areas too - sweep or waterblast paths, mulch garden beds and clear gutters. If your garden is picture-perfect in summer and spring, consider making some photos available so prospective buyers can see what they've got to look forward to.

A few colourful plants in pots will also help brighten outdoor spaces and a new letterbox or freshly-painted front fence or gate will do wonders for your property's street appeal.

Prepare well and there's no reason why you can't successfully sell your property before the weather warms up. Sell now and you'll hopefully have lots of properties to choose from when you start scanning the market in spring.

Kevin Lampen-Smith is the chief executive of the Real Estate Authority (REA), the independent government agency that regulates the New Zealand real estate industry. If you have a question about buying or selling property, send it to susan.edmunds@stuff.co.nz For independent advice on buying or selling property, check out settled.govt.nz.