How Can You Successfully Sell a House in the Winter?

Houston Real Estate Podcast with Dale Ross

Thinking about selling your house this winter? There are a few extra steps you need to take to get the most out of your sale this time of year that I wanted to share with you.

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Since winter is nearly here, it’s important to remember that the winter market in Houston is still very good—it always has been and it always will be. In fact, December is often the second-highest closing month of the year in real estate here. Why?

People want to buy a home and be living in it by January 1st to take advantage of the homestead exemption. If you buy a house any later, you may not realize the tax exemptions for that particular year.

Another important thing to consider is your landscaping, especially since we have a lot of grasses here that tend to go dormant in the winter. There are several ways to work around grass turning brown.

For starters, you could just leave it as is because you’ll be on even footing with just about everyone else on the market right now. Another option is to buy winter grass or rye grass, which is very inexpensive. It’s a grass you can seed now that’s very hearty throughout the winter months. When the heat comes, it dies off, so you don’t have to worry about it coming back ever again. You can pick it up at Lowe’s or Walmart.

Homes are sold first on emotion.

If we have a hard freeze and your landscaping isn’t protected, it’s bad news. If you’re thinking about selling in the winter, I recommend that you watch your plants very closely. If they die or get freezer burn, replace them with something that won’t freeze as easily. It may be easier to cover your plants initially to prevent this.

On cold days, make sure your thermostat is set at 72 degrees. This is just a little bit warmer than the outside most of the time, and people tend to like walking into a home with a warm feeling. If you have a fireplace, lighting a fire is a great way to add a homey feel, too.

Remember, homes are sold first on emotion, and second by logic. That first emotional step is the most important step. If you have any other questions about selling your home in the winter, give me a call or send me an email soon. I look forward to hearing from you!