Selling Your Home During The Holidays

One of the most frequently asked questions I get this time of year is about Selling Your Home During The Holidays. Certainly the peak season for housing activity is the summer months, but there are still pros and cons for selling your home during the holidays. In reality, the biggest con is that you have to keep your house “showing ready” during an already hectic time of year. You’ll be decorating or entertaining and could be interrupted by a buyer who wants to see your home.

There are several pros to selling your home during the holidays. One is that although there are less overall buyers, there are more motivated buyers in the market. Typically buyers who aren’t motivated will wait until after the holidays to start looking. Buyers who are spending time during the holidays looking at homes have a sense of urgency to get under contract and enjoy the season as soon as possible. The fact that most buyers are looking for properties online and screening them via the internet also makes it easier for buyers to search. Another advantage to selling your home during the holidays is lower inventory and less competition. January is traditionally a huge listing month and inventory increases dramatically. More inventory results in less demand and less money for your home.

If you decide to sell your home during the holidays, here are a few tips:

1) Homes often look their best during the holidays, but be careful not to overdo it on the decorating. Decorations that are too many or too large can crowd your home and distract buyers.

2) Create a warm and comfortable environment for buyers. Have the home well lit and heated to counteract the dreary winter weather. Holiday food smells like spiced cider and baked apple are loved almost universally.

3) Focus on Curb Appeal and Outdoor Lighting! With leaves off trees, your house will be more exposed than ever, so make sure it’s clean and bright. With shorter days more showings will be when it’s dark, so invest in some outdoor lighting to increase the appeal at night.

If you need additional information about selling your home during the holidays, don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

Tim Hopkins
http://www.tkosales.com
678-341-7403