Admittedly, winter is B.C. isn’t like winter just about anywhere else in the country, but it can be. So it’s possible that buying a home during a Lower Mainland winter can mean facing the same challenges as anywhere else in the country.
In fact, it’s not always about winter weather. For example, there are typically fewer buyers during the “off-season” market, and fewer homes for sale. So if there are fewer listings, the buyers may be more motivated and the sellers have less competition.
That’s a combination which can lead to a quick transaction.
If wintry conditions do exist — as in snow covering everything from the roof to the sidewalk — there are still ways to check what you can’t see. If there’s snow or ice on the roofs of homes in the neighbourhood but not on the one you’re thinking of buying, it’s a sign that heat is escaping and lack of insulation, perhaps, is the reason. Driveways and sidewalks should be cleaned to allow you, the buyer, to check their condition.
It can, of course, be awkward. You may have to request photos of the yard and any outdoor amenities like pools in non-winter conditions, or documents to verify maintenance or condition of anything that can’t be checked to see if it’s in good working order.
For the seller, then, it’s just the reverse: Be prepared to have everything you think the buyer might want to see.
It’ll work for both sides.