5 Tips for House Hunting in Winter
Although most people prefer to move in the spring or summer, you sometimes have no option but to buy a home in the winter. Since most of the advice you find about house hunting relates to the warmer months of the year, it’s important to bear in mind a few extra considerations for the winter. Here are some tips to guide you.
1. Receive a High-Quality Inspection
Winter weather can more easily mask some issues with a house, especially if some parts of the property are covered in snow or less accessible to an inspector than normal. Make sure your inspection takes into consideration the gutters, driveway, outdoor plumbing (like faucets and hoses), foundation, and roof. In particular, find out about features that would be costly to fix, such as the septic system.
2. Think About Amenities You’ll Want All Year Round
It’s easy to fall into the trap of only thinking about the amenities you need right now. Remember that you’ll need air conditioning and — if you’re looking at a house with a yard — you’ll want to be comfortable spending time outdoors. In addition to considering the property itself, research what amenities you’ll have in the community, such as parks and recreational centers.
3. Pay Less Attention to Curb Appeal
Don’t be distracted if a blanket of snow is making a home look attractive — it could be hiding a damaged roof, which would be a massive expense. On the flip side, some houses appear bare in the winter months when there are no leaves on the trees and the yard is uninteresting. For these reasons, it’s better to give first impressions less weight in the winter and consider factors that actually matter. For instance, think about how the yard could look in the spring. Just bear in mind that if the yard is currently barren and you want landscaping, adding sod could be expensive.
4. Check the Heating
The benefit of buying in winter is you’ll have a good idea of what the heating in your house is like. When touring the property, you should be able to walk around in a reasonable amount of clothing — after all, it’s not common to wear a winter coat indoors. Make sure your home inspector also checks the heating system (to ensure you’re unlikely to run into problems) and insulation in places like the attic, around the windows, and the fireplace.
5. Make an Offer When You Like a Home
There tend to be fewer houses on the market in the winter because more people want to wait to move until the spring. You may be tempted to delay making an offer until you’ve seen more places, but this can backfire if another buyer snaps up the house before you.
In addition, avoid underbidding in the winter, unless your realtor recommends you make a lowball offer. Prices are often a little lower this time of year anyway, meaning you may already be getting a good deal.
No matter what time of year you’re searching for a home, it helps to have professional support. Contact Damon Bunting for all your Sherwood Park real estate needs.