It can't sell if it's not on the market. Buyers are out looking 365 days a year.

Living in the desert this is not as big of an issue here.  It slows down around Christmas BUT we get many winter vistors every year (sometimes called Snowbirds) that I would not take my property off the market if I had it listed during the winter.

I sure do... We have had a busy fall with lots of buyers still looking. Those sellers who list now are often rewarded with a quick sale at a good price. 

 We don't have that issue...it is more that people may be hesitant to start a listing...that famous "wait till spring"....and here we are supposed to have balmy 70 degree weather in Wisconsin this week !

For us, our market is seasonal and just getting up to full speed here in Florida. In SoCal; it is a year 'round market.

Peoples lives change 365 days a year. I let them know also pull things that have sold from surrounding area last year. Numbers in black and white always tend to help prove your point:)

I seem to have the opposite problem - sellers who want their property ON market during our 'low season' and I beg them to wait till after Super Bowl to start. But to answer your Q . . . show them the stats that prove your point, and ask them if they are willing to miss a sale to someone who has to be moved before the first of year.

Most times it is because of the holiday's and when you explain they could keep the home open but have no showings on such and such dates and times they leave it on the market.

people need shelter all year round and winter is one of the best times to sell....especially with other sellers wanting to hold off until spring!!

Mona,
I remind them that people move all year. Leases expire, job changes, many people come into money via gifts or bonuses at the end of the year. 

I take it on a case by case basis, but would definitely discuss with my sellers.

The short answer is - it depends.  I completely agree that properties can and do sell in the middle of the winter.  In fact, if you look at data showing transaction velocity in our market (NYC), you find that there is only a 25% difference between the most active month and the least active month.  That's a significant change of course but there are still a lot of homes selling!

With that being said, if a property has already had been on the market for awhile and hasn't sold, the winter can be a good time to take a break before coming back in early spring.

Mona,

I think, it is important to really listen to their discussion with very wide open ears.  Then handle each objection one by one.  If they are still insisting on their point of view, let them be and respect their decision.  They may in a couple of days change their minds or not.  A

It is always a matter of market conditions, so if the absorption rates still favors the sellers then keep it on the market. If not, then lower the price if you have to sell or take it off the market if you want to wait until Spring.

Mona Gersky it all boils down to motivation.

Motivated sellers always want to sell - not try during the peak months!

And honest discussion with the sellers about their motivation does make a huge difference.

Try it out - and share the benefits of selling the homes in winter.

I am sure there are many blog posts about that here on ActiveRain.

Not as big an issue here in 82 degree-November-San Diego .

But yes, when they want to "wait" I do make sure it's for reasons other than the mythical holiday slow down; the 4th quarter is always my 2nd busiest each year!

Yes I tell sellers this is a good time to continue with listing their home.  There are less homes on the market and there is a good chance your home will sell. Families need homes year round.

I constantly get asked what the "season" is at Fishhawk Lake, as most assume there is one since it's a resort/vacation type of community. I tell them that we bought our first place in November. That I have sold vacation homes and vacant lots in October, January, February, it doesn't matter. The days on MLS do sometimes, though. So, I suggest a pocket listing for my sellers so that they don't miss out on the buyers that constantly get ahold of me!

It depends. Motivation always needs to be discussed before a listing is signed. That said, things happen and changes occur so it's always about an individual situation.   

Great question and answers.

I show them the advantages of getting it going NOW.

We account for that and deal with it in the listing agreement

I sell listings quite a bit during the holidays, So often relocation clients come out during that time, and investory is low. 

With fewer homes on the market at that time chances of selling faster and higher are better than ever. No brainer.

I've told this story before, Mona Gersky ... but Marilyn and I sold our home in Mokena during the Holidays when we decided to downsize.  So many people mentioned how beautiful the home looked at that time ... and the family that ended-up buying it said  it was because they imagined themselves celebrating their future holidays there too.  I truly believe it worked in our favor to a very great extent. 

Gene

absolutely! I tell them I ratified an offer one year on Christmas Day and I was in labor. 

Buyers are looking all year round! If it's not on the market a buyer can't see it and write an offer. Just pulling up the sold properties from past years can help prove your point.

Yes I try to tell them that buyers looking now are serious buyers and if they are not on the market they may lose out on the very best offer.

You must be in the north.  Here in the other half of the country, season is starting.

Great question Mona Gersky ....I tell people all the time that people buy homes year round ....they just buy more in other seasons! But ....if it's been on the market through the Spring and Fall I sometimes have them take it off from Thanksgiving till after the first of the year and then we put it back on.

Serious sellers that have a desire and need/want to sell will not worry about things like this.  There are buyers out.  If you're in an already low-inventory market, this isn't helpful!

Expressing an understanding of their concern goes a long way.

It is unlikely there is any real hard winter issue in Sylva NC that would compel no sale activity like ten feet of snow.

It is most likely the speaker does not want to sound selfish by saying, "I want the Holidays to myself and family" and chose to use another seemingly valid justification. 

Before you consider telling the homeowner they are WRONG, make sure you understand the REAL concern.

This is not a bad thing. I can think of a dozen ways to benefit from this situation.

Then I would have a Jan 5 restart in writing. 

One of my clients is taking the property off the market this week. 

I am lucky that we don't get any weather, infact, we don't even get much rain. I can't remeber when the last time we got rain. So fortunately my area is not affected much by the winter blues.

I haven't had this happen very often. But I do educate sellers that buyers shopping for a home during the holidays are very serious buyers. 

I try to encourage them to leave their  home one the market when it is the right thing to do,  And I don't let the seasons affect the process.

I build my inventory in November. There is less competition and maybe less buyers...the buyers out looking are  more serious. I have been fortunate to sell in every month, at every holiday and in every kind of weather. The right time to sell is when the seller is ready and so is the house.!

I have this conversation at the limt of listing.  We talk about the chanc eof selling and the idea of them moving during the winter time in our cold climate

I do not agree and state my reasons why. Those that listened to me did well.

Buyers often have vacation time around the holidays. I think it best to keep listing through the winter.

In our MLS the days on market and CDOM do not reset until a year is up.

I try to enlighten them in a non pushy way, there will be less competition now. If it is related to family coming to town for the holidays and all that, I can understand and agree.

We are the reverse, Mona. Although our market is year-round summer is usually a little slower and things pick up again now. Winter is a good time to sell here in the tropics. Yes, I regularly explain to our many absentee owners that our market is year-round.

Not much winter here.  Actually, the weather finally gets cool enough to get outside.

I always tell people not to pull a listing just because the seasons change.  I often have my busiest months in the winter time, and that's because serious buyers are out there.

The risk is other realtors use that opportunity to undercut you.

It becomes someone else listing after first of the year.

Most has to do with commission reduction and incentives offered.