Q: What do I need to know about selling my home during the holidays?
A: The holidays can bring serious buyers. Many homeowners tend to believe the holidays could be a bad time to sell their home. The fact is that the potential buyers that are looking are most likely very serious buyers.
Holiday home buyers have a different motivation, such as using vacation time to scout for homes. They are doing it because they are motivated to buy rather than just wanting to buy. Also, job transferees use the holidays to house hunt because January is the biggest transfer month of the year. While it is true that the holidays can mean reduced activity for showings to buyers, don’t give up.
If your house is on the market, it’s time to increase the action plan to draw attention to it. Don’t let the holiday slump make you feel like there is no chance your home will sell. In fact, last December, 481 homes were sold in our area according to MLS sales data. Additionally, 754 homes entered the market last December as new home listings. Homes are bought and sold this time of the year. But, the ones that get bought are the ones that are enticing the buyers.
While this time of year often brings out all the holiday decor, there is such a thing as too much holiday cheer. A home seller must keep in mind that not all buyers celebrate the same holidays. While making your home available for showings it is good to keep decor simple and subtle.