When to Put YOUR Crested Butte Home on the Market?
Are you considering selling your Crested Butte area home? As you may know there are two real estate “selling seasons” in Crested Butte – Winter and Summer. There are also peak times within these specific seasons that attract more visitors – and more potential buyers to Crested Butte. There is a direct correlation between the number of visitors in town and the real estate activity.
In the Winter we see high numbers of visitors around Thanksgiving when Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) starts the lifts spinning, Christmas week, New Years week, MLK weekend, Presidents Weekend, Valentines Day, and Spring Break (usually spans 2-3 weeks in March). During the Summer months we see visitors arrive in Crested Butte in early June – but most will agree that the peak activity does not start until July 4th and continues through the middle of August when many families return home to get their kids ready for school. There are still many visitors who continue to come to Crested Butte through the end of August, the month of September and into the beginning of October. In fact there are many couples who return on buying trips during the off-season months when they don’t have the rest of the family and can focus on looking at property. It can also be easier to show property in the “shoulder seasons” when there are not as many second homeowners staying in their homes or renters in their homes. As well – seeing a home in the Skyland Subdivision adjacent to the golf course in the Winter may be easier than the Summer, and seeing a ski-in/out Condo in the Summer may be vacant and easy to see….
Here are some reasons why you may want to consider selling now rather than waiting:
If you are a fisherman you have probably never caught a fish when your line was not in the water… It is tough to time the market whether you are Selling stocks and bonds, or real estate. My recommendation to clients is “if you are ready to sell your home – let’s get it ready and get it listed for sale sooner vs. later”. You never know when you may miss a buyer who is coming through town tomorrow that may be looking for what you are selling. Sellers goals are similar once they have decided to Sell:
- Get the Highest Price for my home
- Sell it sooner vs. later (Average Days on Market for Homes Sold in Crested Butte ~ approximately 1 year*)
* See detailed Crested Butte Real Estate Market Reports
What homebuyers care about most is finding the right Crested Butte home in the right place for the right price. Most home buyers want to see a clean well care for home – most do not want to buy a “project” so if there is a punch list of things that need repair or replacement – hire a contractor and get the work done. Common areas overlooked are usually inexpensive and easy to replace – window seals that have broken and windows need replacing, old worn carpet, outdated light fixtures, chrome trim or bathroom fixtures, paint, removing of old furniture, furnishings and clutter… etc. Remember – if you are able to come to terms with a Buyer and go Under Contract – the Buyer will be hiring an Inspector. The Inspector WILL find the issues, and likely you will be asked to fix and pay for the necessary repairs (or worse they may terminate the contract).
To sell your home in Winter, consider preparation that takes weather into account:
- Make sure to hire snow shovelers to routinely shovel the walks, entryways and decks around your home. You may not use it in winter, but your buyer needs to know it is there for the summer.
- Keep your home warm and cozy. Setting the thermostat at 55 degrees may be what you have done in the past – but if you are selling your home you need to re-think this. Now is not the time to worry about heat costs. If buyers are cold and uncomfortable, they will not stay long enough to experience your home’s special features.
- If you have a gas fireplace light it to make sure it works. Ditto for the Home Audio system – both create a warm inviting feeling for the Buyers. If you have a wood burning fireplace – consider placing a grouping of candles in a fireplace so they can be lit during open houses or showing.
Since daylight is at a premium in winter, it is best to have your house shown during daylight hours – but some showings may be on cloudy days or dusk or night – make sure all the lights work and they have fresh lightbulbs in them (including exterior lighting). If you have great views like most homes in Crested Butte – make sure your windows are clear and free of winter grime and that window treatments are clean and dust-free.
To sell your home in Summer, consider outdoor beautification
- Crested Butte is the wildflower capital of Colorado – and if possible your home should be “decorated” in flowers as well. Hanging baskets of flowers and flowerpots on deck and porches make your home look better. If you have wildflowers or flowerbeds. It is a good idea to hire a landscaper to come plant some flowers that will last the Summer and remove the weeds from the beds. If you have an irrigation system to water the flowers this is great – if not you may have someone come water every other day or have a drip system installed – an inexpensive timer and drip system can be put in place.
- Most Buyers will walk outside on the decks and porches – be sure to remove clutter and if you have outdoor furniture – set it up.
- Exterior trim and paint that may not be visible in the Winter months – will be in full display in the Summer especially around the front of the home. Curb appeal, and a good first impressions are key to all showings.
Rely on sage advice from your local real estate agent, for optimizing your home for a smooth selling process.
If you are interested in finding out what your Crested Butte home is worth, or considering me to represent you as a Buyer, I would appreciate the opportunity to earn your business (or that of a friend you think I could help).
Visit chriskopf.com. Phone: (970) 209-5405, or chriskopf@bighornrealty.com
Thanks,
Chris Kopf Previews® Property Specialist Coldwell Banker Bighorn Realty (970) 209-5405 chriskopf@bighornrealty.com
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