Selling Your Home thru the Holidays!

When you look at your November and December calendars you may find the months already overloaded with seasonal obligation—shopping, entertaining, decorating the house, and so much more. If you are also trying to sell your home, you are under extra pressure to keep your home in “show time” condition. And that could be the last thing you need before the holiday spirit is broken.

It is understandable why you would be tempted to take your home off the market during the holidays. And the list of justifications is long. BUT WAIT! Taking your home off the market during the Christmas season is a mistake.

Consider the following points:

• Buyer activity appears to slow down; the buyers who are actively looking during the holidays are that much more serious.
• Buyers deliberately choose to shop for a home after the busy spring and summer rush. They know it will be easier to look, and that negotiations will be less stressful.
• Relocating families often don’t have a choice in when they can leave for their new destination. Typically they want to be settled by the first of the New Year.
• At Christmastime, our culture focuses on family and the home. Preparing for the indoor activities of winter is one of the most enjoyable periods of family life. Allowing buyers to view your home during this most hospitable of seasons lets them better picture their own family life in the attractive environment you have created.
• When is your home ever more beautiful and inviting? You have cleaned and decorated, and your home looks like a picture postcard.
• With reduced inventories and motivated buyers, you will have all the members of the MLS on your team. You may find you have more showings than you would if your marketed your home during a busier time of year.

Since most markets are beginning to experience increases in inventory, you’ll probably be better off selling now than waiting till the spring, when you have to compete with the rest of the world.