By Meghan Streit
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

It’s a well-known fact that spring is historically the busiest season for residential real estate sales. But REALTORS and industry experts say you can beat the  rush by listing your house in the winter.

Coldwell Banker Residential REALTOR Julie Michael says that in this market, listings typically start to get attention after five to six weeks. So by putting your house on the market in January or February, you can capture the momentum of the beginning of the spring selling season.

“You can really start a lot earlier than you were thinking,” she tells people  oping to sell this spring.

Attract motivated buyers
Michael also says that winter buyers, many of whom are being relocated by their employers, are usually more serious and motivated to make a purchase.  So by listing during the cold months, sellers can tap into this often overlooked market.

“Don’t hesitate to either put it on or leave it on [the market] during the holidays, because it always looks more inviting with the twinkling lights and decorations,” Michael says.

She reminds sellers to be sure to have a large rug by the front door to give prospective buyers a comfortable place to remove wet coats and boots. And, she adds, if you have a fireplace, lighting it before showings will improve the ambience of your house.

Put your time inside to good use
Winter is also the perfect time to begin making repairs and sorting through your  closets and cupboards. Michael says holiday visits with children and  grandchildren are an ideal opportunity to enlist their help with packing—and you can also send them home with things you may no longer want, like china or large furniture.

“You’re only going to get a couple showings a week [in the winter], so it’s not as if you can’t have a workman in the house,” Michael says. “So, go ahead and  put it on the market.