While many of us are looking forward to the arrival of Spring, for homebuyers there is no need to wait.
This is the perfect time to get a jumpstart on your search—and to discover the many benefits that come with buying a home in the winter.
“You never know when your dream home may hit the market, or life dictates that you have to move cities or homes,” says REALTOR® Nick FitzGibbon. “Ideally you see your home on a beautiful Summer day with lots of daylight and enjoy the entire experience, but that isn't always the case.”
Buying a home in the heart of winter certainly has its pros and cons. Kicking off snowy slushy boots, getting all bundled up and not wanting to spend more time in the -10 degree weather can put a damper on your home shopping experience. That being said, there are some serious benefits to buying a home in the winter.
“I recently sat in on a home inspection and the colder weather was able to show some possible deficiencies in the home that we wouldn’t have been able to notice with warmer weather,” he says.
Take advantage of this time of year and be on the lookout for the following:
1. Melted or melting snow on the roof
Melted or melting snow on the roof can indicate patches with the insulation in the attic and heat loss that is occurring in certain areas. This is a very important clue about the overall efficiency of the home and something you will want to remedy to keep utilities costs down.
2. Drafts or cold spots on the walls and windows
On a windy, cold day, it is a lot easier to feel the contrast of the cold outside air leaking into the nice warm home. Again, these types of deficiencies are very important to remedy and much harder to find when the temperatures are the same inside and out.
3. Ice build-up on eavestroughs
When you see ice building up on certain parts of the roof and eavestroughs, it shows you problem areas that may need extra attention or heat to ensure they don’t get damaged and are working properly.
4. Snow built up on the street and the frequency of city plowing
The city has a great system for plowing the roads in the most efficient way possible to maximize the number of residents they can service. After a big snowfall, you’ll notice if your street is one of the first to plow. If you are buying a home on a quieter street, it may not get much attention from the snow plows in the winter.
5. Shoveling the driveway
For many homes, having a larger or longer driveway is great for extra parking when guests come over, or for kids with their own cars, but it does come with some extra responsibility that can be overlooked in the summer. If you are not looking to shovel more snow than you need to, buying a home in the winter can show you how much snow has to get moved from your laneway, as well as clearing off the sidewalk in front of the property. While this is rarely a “deal breaker”, when you are viewing a home in the winter, you can see exactly how much shoveling will be needed to maintain the property.
“These are just a few of the benefits to looking and buying a home in the Winter, but every season comes with its own pros and cons when purchasing a home, and no two properties are alike,” says FitzGibbon. “Reach out with any questions regarding purchasing or selling in any season.”
For more information and the latest heritage property listings, visit Nick FitzGibbon’s Let’s Talk Real Estate or call 519-821-3600.