Tips for selling your home in November and December

Don’t let the first big snowfall of the season dissuade you from listing your home for sale this year. Selling your home in November or December isn’t impossible! 

According to the Toronto Real Estate Board, sales growth in the Greater Toronto Area has outpaced new listings growth this year, which means the resale market is still tight. Demand is strong and there’s not enough supply. 

One of the best things about selling your home at the end of the year is that most of the buyers in the market are serious and motivated. Most people in the market in November and December are ready to buy, or maybe even have to buy.  

Here are a few things to consider if you’re planning on trying to sell your home over the next few weeks:

Check agent’s availability 

Like many others, real estate agents tend to vacation in December. If you’re serious about selling in December, you need a real estate agent that will be responsive and committed to making themselves available throughout the month, whether it’s freezing or snowing! This shouldn’t be too difficult to do though. When discussing your property with potential agents, simply ask them about availability. 

Offer a spring closing

If possible, make a spring closing an option, or at least be flexible. Someone may be ready to buy right now, but they may not want to move in the middle of winter. Moving in the early spring is way easier because there’s a better chance the roads will be clear and it won’t be as cold. This also gives you a bit more time to house hunt. 

Decorate for the holidays 

An unkempt house can look dreary in the winter, which is why it’s so important to freshen things up, indoors and outdoors. You should keep your holiday decorations neutral and stylish. We suggest wreaths, white string lights, and perhaps other winter themed decor. Smaller accent pieces like pinecones, evergreen branches, and other glittery/shiny accessories will look good indoors, too. There’s no point in pretending like it’s not winter!

Create a warm space

If you have an open house or a showing scheduled, make sure your heater is on. When people show up, they should feel relief upon entering your home, as they just escaped the bitter cold. If you have a gas fireplace, turn this on in anticipation of the potential buyers arriving. If you want to take things to the next level, bake a quick batch of cookies so they have a treat and your home will smell amazing. 

Protect flooring 

This won’t necessarily help you sell your home, but it will save you some clean-up time. Remember to put down extra large mats in your entryway so that when people enter your home with their boots, there’s no chance of slush and snow seeping out onto your flooring, and potentially causing damage. 

If you’re selling your home this winter, we wish you luck and we hope these tips help!