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Health & Fitness

Putting Your Home on the Market During the Holiday Season

Is the perception that home sales drop off dramatically during the holidays true?

The clocks have been turned back, the sun sets earlier, reminding us that winter is fast approaching. It is a widely held perception that home sales drop off dramatically during the holidays and winter months. This couldn’t be a great time to list your home — right? Is this actually the case?

As you look over your calendar, I am sure that you will find that the months ahead are already overloaded with seasonal obligations — shopping, entertaining, charity work, decorating the house, just to name a few. Then, through it all, you are trying to sell your home! To have the added pressure of keeping your home in "show" condition can seem a little bit overwhelming.  

It is certainly understandable why you would be tempted to take your home off the market during the holiday season. You can come up with a list a mile long as to why this makes sense. You might say, "If I am too busy, so are the buyers;" keeping your home in “show” condition may not be worth your efforts to justify the amount of showings you may have. Then, if you do get an offer, what then? You may be faced with the possibility of packing and moving during the busiest time of the year… crazy right? It might be best to just give your house a rest and wait it out until after the holidays, or better yet — let’s wait until spring. Sounds logical, wouldn’t you say?

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Well, I believe that it would be a mistake to take your home off the market during the holiday season. Your house is not going to sell if it’s off the market! What would be the advantage?

I purchased both my homes in Brookfield in the month of December… I kid you not! It truly just takes one buyer. Statistics show that buyers that are out looking at homes during the holiday season are motivated buyers — they want to “buy a house” — go figure!! 

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Below I have listed some benefits to having your home on the market during the holiday season:

  • Interest rates are still historically low. The current low interest rates give buyers more spending power, which in the end will help you sell your home. We can only deal with “the here and now,” we do not know where the market will be tomorrow. Ahh… to have that “crystal ball.”
  • Most people take some time off from work during the holiday season. This makes showings easier because the buyers will have more time to look at homes together.
  • Although buyer activity may appear to slow down, the buyers who are actively looking during the holidays are much more serious about purchasing a home. The housing market is no more affected during the holiday season than during any other "busy" period. If that were true, the market would shut down throughout the year as families concentrate on spring weddings, June graduations, summer vacations and back-to-school activities. 
  • Many buyers deliberately choose to shop for a home after the busy spring and summer rush. They know that it will be easier to look and that negotiations will be less stressful. They may not have children, or they may have grown children, so moving to accommodate the school year isn't a consideration. However, finding the right home at the right price, is.
  • Relocating families often do not have control over the timing of their new home destination. Although 68 percent of transferring families have children, many families have to transfer during the middle of the school year. These are the families that are much more motivated to get their families settled in before the January semester begins, or perhaps arrange for the move during spring break. If we were successful enough to get a contract signed by the end of the year, the timing could work out just perfectly!
  • Around the holiday season, our culture really focuses on family and home. Allowing buyers to view your home during this most hospitable of seasons will allow them to better picture their own family life in the attractive warm environment you have created.
  • When has your home ever looked more beautiful and inviting? You have cleaned and decorated, and your home looks like it could be on a picture postcard. If the results are good enough for family and friends, they will surely be good enough to impress your buyers.

With reduced inventories (supply and demand) and motivated buyers, you may find that you have more showings now than if you marketed your home during a busier time of year. I have personally noticed an increase in activity just this month. 

Now, if you do get an offer to purchase/contract on your home, Celebrate! You may still be a bit overwhelmed because of the timing… no worries — negotiate terms that will best suit your needs. If moving during the holidays isn't an option for you, negotiate a closing date that will. Most people can close within 30 to 60 days after a fully executed contract. 

So, if you have decided to keep your home on the market, or have decided to put your home on the market, here are a few tips that will help the showings go as smoothly as possible:

  • Keep sidewalks and driveways clear of ice and snow.
  • Make sure there is an area rug/doormat near all doorways to eliminate tracking any snow and salt in from the outside. You can ask to have them remove their shoes before walking through the home — that is a fine and acceptable request. 
  • Curb appeal is most important — first impressions certainly matter! So with snow-covered landscape, the emphasis should be on the exterior front door. Make your entry look inviting by keeping it welcoming and clean. Consider hanging a nice festive wreath on your door for a welcoming touch! 
  • Raise the thermostat to a comfortable temperature when buyers come to visit your home. They will spend more time looking around if they are nice and warm.
  • In order to help with the daily up-keep of your home, get the family on board and have a five-minute morning pick-up blitz routine.
  • If you have a fireplace, show it off! Consider lighting a fire as long as you plan to be around.
  • 'Tis the season to be baking… Why not leave a fresh batch of homemade cookies for your guests (perspective buyers) when they arrive — it will certainly leave a nice impression. Not to mention it will make the house smell inviting. 
  • If you have seasonal photographs of your home, you should give them to your REALTOR so she can showcase them to the perspective buyers in your own personal marketing home book. 

An accurately priced property will sell at any time in any season! So, if you are considering putting your home on the market, feel free to contact us. We can provide you with a complimentary Qualified Market Analysis (QMA) of your home.

Contact your Key Real Estate Team — Laura Cruger @ 203-948-1103 or Laure Levitt @ 203-733-1393 or visit our website.

Click here to view the 3rd Quarter Market Watch 

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