“Is winter a bad time to sell?” ❄️🏡
The Question That Won’t Leave You Alone
Be honest—how many times have you said some version of this lately:
“Maybe we should just wait until spring.
I don’t want our listing to just sit there all winter.”
Or:
“Everyone keeps saying, ‘Just wait until spring’—are we crazy to even think about listing now?”
If that sounds like your 1:12 a.m. brain while you’re doom-scrolling Zillow in sweatpants and reading about “spring selling season”… you are not crazy, and you are definitely not alone.
A lot of sellers don’t just question winter—they quietly delete it from the menu, like it’s obviously the ‘wrong’ season, without ever really looking at the pros and cons of winter versus spring for their actual life.
You’re Not the Only One Thinking This
Every winter, I find myself at the same kind of kitchen table:
Grey February afternoon, half-cold coffee, one spouse checking Zillow and comparing it to the house down the street, the other staring at the school calendar and the pile of winter boots by the door asking:
“We really going to put the house on the market now?”
You’ve got life pulling one way (job, kids, health, sanity)… and this loud cultural voice pulling the other:
“Real sellers wait until spring. Winter is just a waiting room.”
If you’re stuck between “We need to move” and “We’ll look stupid if our house sits all February,” you’re not behind.
You’re human.
Why “Let’s Just Wait for Spring” Feels So Safe
Here’s what usually happens under the surface when you say, “Let’s just wait for spring.”
Staying put feels safer than making a big decision, so “we’ll just wait” starts to sound smart—even if nothing about your situation actually changes by waiting.
Then you notice other people taking their homes off the market or talking about “relisting in March,” and it suddenly feels risky to be the one family who doesn’t follow the crowd. If everyone else is waiting, they must know something… right?
On top of that, there’s this future version of you in your head, shaking their head and saying, “If we’d just waited for spring, we could’ve made so much more.” You’re not just afraid of making a mistake now—you’re afraid of being mad at yourself later.
And somewhere in the mix is a quieter worry most people don’t say out loud:
“If our home sits all winter, people will think something’s wrong with it… or with us.”
When you stack all of that together, “let’s wait until spring” feels smart and responsible. Sometimes it is.
But a lot of the time, it’s just a very polite way of saying,
“I’m scared to move forward and I don’t want to get this wrong.”
No shame in that.
We just need to be honest about what’s really driving the decision.
A Better Question Than “Is Winter a Bad Time?”
If you’re anything like most sellers, at some point you’ve typed into Google or even ChatGPT:
“Is winter a bad time to sell my house?”
(Don’t worry—you’re in good company.)
It’s not a terrible question… it’s just not the deepest one.
The better question is:
“Is this a good time for our life to change?”
Houses sell in every season.
Winter simply feels different:
Fewer showings, but often more serious buyers.
Less competition… but also fewer options for you to buy.
Spring isn’t “good” and winter “bad.”
They’re just different trade-offs.
So instead of letting the calendar boss you around, look at your decision through this simple framework:
A Simple Framework: Life – Market – Math
Life (Heart)
What’s happening with your family, health, work, school, and energy?
60-second check:
“If I’m honest, the person I’m thinking about most in this decision is…”
Market (Head)
Look at what you actually see around you: the “For Sale” signs, how long they sit, whether buyers are still showing up.
60-second check:
“Based on what I’m seeing around us, the market right now feels…”
Math (Head + Gut)
Think about the money side and what it makes possible—your mortgage, taxes, repairs, and the equity you’ve built, plus what a move could unlock next (different school district, shorter commute, closer to family, more margin).
60-second check:
“When I think about the money, time, and energy in this house, the word that comes to mind is…”
Sometimes your gut is more honest than your 47-tab spreadsheet.
If Life, Market, and Math are all nudging you toward change, the season isn’t your real issue.
If they’re all saying, “We genuinely need a little more time,” then waiting isn’t cowardice—it’s wisdom.
ACTION STEP 🎬
If You Want More Than One Post to Go On
If this stirred something and you want more than one post to go on, start at GravityBroker.com.
You’ll find free tools to help you sort through this, and you can also check out my book and companion workbook,
“Selling Your Home?” by Ben Brooks (available on Amazon).
No pressure.
No hard sell.
Just resources to help you decide whether this is your season to move, or your season to wait on purpose instead of waiting out of fear.
And yes—people sell houses in the middle of slush, lost mittens, and LEGO minefields.
Life doesn’t wait for perfect weather.
And your next chapter doesn’t have to either.
Disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only and isn’t financial or legal advice. Your situation is unique—always talk with a trusted real estate professional and, if needed, your attorney or financial advisor before making decisions.
