As the weather cools and the leaves begin to fall, our thoughts turn to cold winter days and the festive holiday season to come. This is also the season when the housing market drops off, and you, like many other realtors, want to get as many of your listings sold before the holiday rush.
Even though selling in the fall means fewer listings and buyers after the peak spring and summer selling season, fear not. Autumn is the second busiest time of year for real estate and there are some definite benefits to selling during this time.
1. Nice weather brings out the buyers.
In many parts of the country, the fall weather is a perfect combination of sunny days and cool nights. People are out and about and are more willing during this time to come to an open house or walk around a prospective neighborhood.
2. Less competition means better commission.
The peak of the real estate season in spring and summer also means a lot of homes on the market. As this number drops off in the fall months, the competition will also dwindle. Buyers in the fall tend to be more serious and more urgent. There are fewer listings to choose from and they want to get moved in before the cold weather hits.
3. Fall colors increase curb appeal.
Second only to the greenery of spring, the beautiful falling leaves against still-green lawns and fall flowers make homes look warm and inviting. You can’t beat curb appeal.
4. Motivated buyers and sellers mean quicker sales.
Many sellers who held out for a higher price on their home during the peak season will be more willing to drop their price the closer they get to the holidays. This often leads to faster sales, especially since fall buyers are often more eager to make a purchase.
So how can you take advantage of the fall selling season?
Keep the following tips in mind when considering the autumn real estate market.
Revisit Expireds and FSBOs that have been on the market for a while.
Even if you didn’t have success with these leads in the spring and summer months, they might be more willing to use your services now that the summer is over.
Represent homes in fall mode on social media.
Marketing yourself on sites such as Twitter and Facebook can be very effective. Advertise your homes on these sites with creative, fall themes. For example, when describing homes, be sure to make them sound cozy and warm so that potential buyers will be able to imagine themselves settling into the home for winter.
Offer fall-related rewards.
For buyers who meet with you to discuss openings, offer some warm apple cider or a slice of pumpkin pie.
Create seasonal advertising.
Use an editing program to insert trick-or-treaters on the porch of the home or add a few autumn gourds to the front walk. Help buyers to see themselves and their families living there right now.
Selling a home in the fall months isn’t necessarily more difficult. It just requires understanding the market and planning accordingly. For more expert advice on how to grow your real estate business, contact us today.
