Special offer
Mona Gersky, GRI,IMSD-Taking the mystery out of real estate. (MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC)

Spam prevention
Rainmaker
1,661,936
John McCormack, CRS
Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM
Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

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

Nov 01, 2015 10:02 PM
Rainmaker
175,614
Spirit Messingham
Tierra Antigua Realty - Tucson, AZ
Third Generation Full-Time Realtor® 520 471-6900

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.

Nov 01, 2015 10:16 PM
Rainmaker
3,416,038
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

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. 

Nov 01, 2015 09:38 PM
Rainmaker
3,340,443
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

 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 !

Nov 01, 2015 09:37 PM
Rainmaker
1,725,996
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

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

Nov 02, 2015 12:11 AM
Rainer
112,947
Vera Gonzalez
RE/MAX Suburban, Inc. - Sterling Heights, MI
Gonzo For Real Estate

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:)

Nov 01, 2015 11:21 PM
Rainmaker
1,052,211
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

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.

Nov 01, 2015 11:13 PM
Rainmaker
1,513,143
Raymond E. Camp
Ontario, NY

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.

Nov 01, 2015 10:30 PM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

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!!

Nov 01, 2015 10:24 PM
Rainmaker
617,935
David Gibson CNE, 719-304-4684 ~ Colorado Springs Relocation
Colorado Real Estate Advisers LLC - Colorado Springs, CO
Relocation, Luxury & Lifestyle residential

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. 

Nov 01, 2015 10:09 PM
Rainmaker
1,525,616
Sybil Campbell
Fernandina Beach, FL
Referral Agent Amelia Island Florida

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

Nov 01, 2015 10:03 PM
Rainer
388,679
Kate Akerly
Kaminsky Group - Manhattan Beach, CA
Manhattan Beach Residential Sales

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.

Nov 01, 2015 09:59 PM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

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

Nov 02, 2015 12:19 AM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

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.

Nov 02, 2015 12:15 AM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

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.

Nov 02, 2015 12:11 AM
Rainmaker
1,543,634
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

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!

Nov 01, 2015 10:00 PM
Rainer
67,369
Evelyn M Epperson
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Johns Creek, GA
A Tradition Of [Excellence, Trust & Service]

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.

Nov 02, 2015 01:43 AM
Rainmaker
1,356,388
Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate
John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR
"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

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!

Nov 02, 2015 01:17 AM
Rainmaker
4,572,117
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

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.   

Nov 02, 2015 12:53 AM
Rainmaker
1,598,452
Valeria Mola
SIB Realty - Miami, Sunny Isles Beach - Sunny Isles Beach, FL
305-607-0709 SIB Realty Condos for Sale and Rent

Great question and answers.

Nov 02, 2019 03:46 PM
Ambassador
6,393,179
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

I show them the advantages of getting it going NOW.

Jan 13, 2019 11:54 PM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

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

Nov 28, 2016 05:23 AM
Rainmaker
1,577,943
Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner
Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 - Mission Viejo, CA
Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395

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

Nov 08, 2015 01:50 AM
Rainmaker
846,475
Marco Giancola
Beachfront Realty - Miami Beach, FL
Realtor (305)608-1922, Miami Beach Florida

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

Nov 07, 2015 10:00 PM
Rainmaker
1,291,481
Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi
NMLS #216987, IL Lic. 031.0006220, WI Licensed. APMC NMLS #175656 - New Lenox, IL
708.921.6331 - 40+ yrs experience

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

Nov 04, 2015 09:19 AM
Rainmaker
2,362,942
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

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

Nov 03, 2015 08:54 PM
Rainmaker
5,005,614
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

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.

Nov 03, 2015 08:35 PM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

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.

Nov 03, 2015 12:04 PM
Rainmaker
699,277
Chris and Dick Dovorany
Homes for Sale in Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero, Florida - Naples, FL
Broker/Associate at Premiere Plus Realty

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

Nov 03, 2015 07:06 AM
Rainmaker
1,731,203
Rob Thomas
Prestige Homes of The Tri Cities, Inc. CALL....423-341-6954 - Bristol, TN
Bristol TN-VA & Tri Cities Agent, ABR, GRI, e-Pro

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.

 

Nov 03, 2015 05:04 AM
Rainmaker
1,562,386
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

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!

Nov 03, 2015 03:02 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

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. 

 

Nov 03, 2015 02:36 AM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

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

Nov 02, 2015 07:50 PM
Rainer
438,118
Doyle Davison
Hawaiian Beaches Hawaii - 714-968-6767 - Huntington Beach, CA
30 years as your Concierge services listing broker

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.

Nov 02, 2015 01:37 PM
Rainmaker
2,224,473
Debbie Laity
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

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. 

Nov 02, 2015 11:56 AM
Rainmaker
282,018
Nancy Robinson Ranked #6 in MI
Century 21 Town and Country - Royal Oak, MI
#11 Century21 Realtor in the US, #16 in the World

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.

Nov 02, 2015 11:05 AM
Ambassador
3,854,886
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

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.!

Nov 02, 2015 09:24 AM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

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

Nov 02, 2015 05:14 AM
Rainmaker
900,128
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

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

Nov 02, 2015 04:22 AM
Rainmaker
544,892
John Mosier
Realty ONE Group Mountain Desert - Prescott, AZ
Prescott's Patriot Agent 928 533-8142

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.

Nov 02, 2015 04:17 AM
Rainmaker
212,755
Stefan Winter
Real Estate in IL & NV | Owner of Real Estate Web Tech | Daily Vlogger - Las Vegas, NV
Owner - Winter Group & Real Estate Web Tech

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.

Nov 02, 2015 02:43 AM
Rainmaker
634,482
Kathleen Luiten
Resort and Second-Home Specialist - Princeville, HI
Kauai Luxury Ocean Home Sales

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.

Nov 02, 2015 02:30 AM
Rainmaker
280,599
Jeanne Gregory
RE/MAX Southwest - Sugar Land, TX
The most important home I sell is YOURS!

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

 

Nov 02, 2015 02:11 AM
Ambassador
1,076,551
John Meussner
Mortgages in AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, IN, MD, MN, MT, NC, NJ, NV, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI - Fair Oaks, CA
#MortgageMadeEasy Fair Oaks, CA 484-680-4852

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.

Nov 02, 2015 02:00 AM
Rainmaker
1,239,901
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

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.

Nov 02, 2015 01:18 AM