The holiday season is upon us. From decorating the house to having the whole family in one place, it really is the most wonderful time of the year…for the most part, that is. What could be the downside to Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah? As it turns out, the holiday season is actually one of the worst times of year for the real estate market. Why? First and foremost, the cold weather doesn’t have anyone jumping to leave the comfort of their warm home to search for a new home. Plus, holiday parties and traveling to be with family dampens the number of potential buyers perusing the market. But, where there are disadvantages, there are also a couple of advantages. Buyers during this time tend to be more serious, and because there are fewer homes on the market, the competition is less fierce. Even so, you should seriously consider placing your home on the market. If you conclude that selling your home now is an absolute necessity, these tips for selling your home during the holidays are sure to make the process less of a challenge:
Don’t go overboard on holiday décor
While you may turn your home into Santa’s workshop every year, we don’t recommend it if you are listing your home. Stick to general winter decorations that put your home in the holiday spirit, while not going overboard. Tasteful Christmas tree, garland on the banister or a wreath above the fireplace should do the trick.
Price to sell
You won’t get the same price during the holidays as you would get during the spring or summer, it’s just the reality of the market. To ensure your home sells during the slow real estate season, price it to sell from the beginning. Don’t overprice to try and get a deal, only to realize you have to continually lower your price to receive any attention from potential buyers.
Increase curb appeal
Have you ever heard the saying, “first impressions matter?” Whoever told you that was right, they do. To ensure potential buyers have a great first impression of your home, clean up the yard, touch up the paint and add a few holiday decorations, lights, to the front of your home. Doing these things will have potential buyers wanting to discover what awaits inside your property.
Hire a professional photographer
As the Internet is the first place a buyer will see your home, make it count. You want a buyer to look at the photos of your home and automatically put it on their “must-see” list! To accomplish this, hire a professional photographer to take top-notch listing photos of your property to ensure its best angles are captured and on display for buyers.
Create a cozy environment
Create a cozy, warm and inviting environment for buyers to escape the cold. Turn on all the lights, adorn furniture with pillows and blankets, and if you have a fire, consider lighting it for showings.
These tips will help make your home stand out during an otherwise slow selling season. Do you have any questions about any of these? Give us a call; we would be honored to provide guidance.
Are you thinking of selling your home this holiday season? We would love to help you navigate the slow market. Contact us today for more information!
