Real Estate Matters
By Elisa Jo Eagan
If you are thinking of selling your home this holiday season, you may be tempted to hold off until the new year. After all, nobody buys houses this time of year, right? These days, the answer may be “yes, they do.”
If you were thinking of waiting until spring or later to sell your home, you might want to consider listing your home now or during the winter months to take advantage of a healthy housing market.
Advantages
There are plenty of good reasons to list your home during the holiday season, including the following:
– You are likely to find more motivated buyers during this time of year. If they still haven’t found the home that they want, or they have a sudden need to relocate, holiday buyers may be more willing to make decisions quickly. In addition, they may be eager to get moved in for their own holiday celebrations, making them easier to negotiate with.
– Many of this year’s buyers have been disappointed by competing with multiple offers on previous properties. They may be willing to move fast and make an offer before someone else does.
– The use of virtual tours or videos may make it easier to sell a home with minimal inconvenience. You will also cast a wider net when your home is on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and gets exposure on the internet.
– This is a slower time of the year for real estate agents. They have more time to focus on your listing and there are ways to get the widest possible audience for your home and its individual features.
– Let’s face it, you are already cleaning and decorating your home for the holiday season. What better time to show it?
Challenges
Of course, listing a home this time of year may bring some drawbacks, including the following:
– If you are entertaining during the holidays, you will want to communicate the days and times when tours will not be available. Offering virtual tours, videos and FaceTime tours as a convenient alternative for interested buyers and their agents are good options as well.
– If you are traveling during the holidays, you will need to ensure that you are available for negotiations and pertinent questions by phone. Your agent will prepare your home for showings as required.
– If time is of the essence, it may be difficult to schedule home inspections, appraisals and closings during the holiday season. However, your agent can create a plan to keep the transaction moving forward in the event you go under contract during the holidays.
Making a Holiday Listing More Appealing
Want to get your home in show-ready condition while also enjoying the holidays with your family and friends? It is easier than you think. Here are some things to keep in mind:
Lighten up on decorations
While you will want to enjoy the season, don’t feel the need to cover every possible surface in holiday décor. It is important for buyers to see the space and get a sense of how it works during the non-holiday months. Go for a minimalist, decluttered holiday look that enhances, rather than hides your home.
Focus on outdoor spaces
Even though it is winter, don’t neglect your outdoor spaces. Keep pathways and surfaces clear of leaves and snow. Optimize outdoor lighting so buyers can see well, even when it gets dark early. Create a cozy seating area on the terrace with candles, a firepit and a basket of blankets.
Warm up the space
Speaking of cozy, take advantage of the season to enhance the indoors as well. Greet potential buyers with the scent of something baking in the oven and a plate of holiday cookies on the counter. Light scented candles and start a fire in the fireplace. Make visitors feel welcome and right at home.
Take photos before you decorate
Just in case your home doesn’t sell before Christmas, it is a good idea to take photos before you decorate. You don’t want buyers looking at photos with holiday decorations in mid-January. It will make the listing feel stale, even if it has only been up for a couple of weeks.
Right-price your home
If you are motivated to sell, this is not the time to test the market and hold out for a higher-than-average price. Check comparable properties in your area and ensure that you price your home correctly at the beginning of the process for maximum market impact.
Consider your timeline and financial requirements and craft a plan that makes sense for you. Work with your Realtor who will have the market insights, network and buyer pool you need to get your home sold any time of year.
As we gather together this Thanksgiving with our family, friends and loved ones, may we give thanks for everything and everyone in our lives and for all of the blessings of love, health and home.
For More Real Estate Questions, Information and Advice Contact Elisa Jo Eagan “The Real Estate Godmother” (609)703-0432 and Remember…”There’s No Place Like Owning Your Own Home!”
