Home for the Holidays: or Not? Hidden Benefits of Selling your Home over the Holiday Season

Home for the Holidays: or Not?

Hidden Benefits of Selling your Home over the Holiday Season

So often, we hear that spring and summer are the best times of year to sell a home. It’s true that fewer people are house-hunting over Thanksgiving and Christmas, but does that mean your house will languish on the market for months or that you’ll have to take less money than your home is worth? Not at all, especially not in Brunswick, not now. Depending on your unique circumstances, the holiday season could be the best time to sell your home.

REASONS NOT TO WAIT

Less Competition

The biggest benefit to selling in November and December is the decreased competition from other sellers, compared to the summer and spring. With fewer homes on the market, it’s easier to stand out and attract buyers. The good news is that on the buying side, demand is still very high. This past summer, many buyers were out-bid or didn’t make an offer quickly enough. These buyers are still on the prowl and anxious as ever to find a home.

Serious Buyers

In the summer, buyers come out in droves. As the market becomes bombarded with listing after listing, it’s hard to resist checking out homes, even if there is no real intention (or ability) to buy. Over the holidays, however, the buyers trolling through listings and connecting with real estate agents tend to be on a “mission.” They know the type of home they want, what neighborhood they want to be in, how much they are willing to pay, and exactly when they want to move. A much larger portion of holiday buyers begin the process with a bank approval in hand, while the opposite is true in the summertime. Tire kickers stay home for the holidays.

Less Stress 

Selling a home tends to be less stressful in November and December, even with the added pressure of the holidays. With fewer “we’re just looking” showings, you won’t have to do nearly as many last-minute cleanings or impromptu outings, and the showings that do happen will be for serious buyers. Poor weather and family obligations will even prompt some buyers to make an offer without visiting your home once if the listing presentation is captivating enough.

TIPS FOR A TOP-DOLLAR
HOLIDAY SALE 

Photograph Your Home Now

If you decide to list your home anytime in the near future, it’s important to have professional photos of your exterior taken right now. Things can look pretty stark later in the season when trees become bare and snow covers the lawn. Having a photo of your home with green grass and full trees can make a world of difference, especially if you don’t expect to be listing right away. Come December, your listing will pop out of the lineup of snow-covered homes.

Plan Ahead 

If you plan to seize the great opportunity to sell this holiday season, it’s also important to plan how this will affect your holidays. If your agent is skilled in selling homes during Thanksgiving and Christmas, he or she will advise you to clear out your clutter and prepare your home for staging. Photographers, professional home stagers, and possibly even contractors will need to be scheduled around your family gatherings, and will want access to the kitchen, bathrooms, and guest bedrooms. If at all possible, let a relative host meals, out-of-town visitors, and parties at their home. You won’t have to forego a Christmas tree or a cozy family gathering, but things like extensive decorations, overnight relatives, and large celebrations could end up hurting your sale.

Work with an Expert 

Remember that you don’t have to take a bad offer just because the market is slower. No matter the time of year, it’s always important to work with a skilled agent. It’s especially important to choose a highly skilled and experienced agent if you want a successful outcome over the holiday season. The average agent sells fewer than three homes per year; odds are, they usually take the holidays off. Choose an agent who understands the opportunities—as well as the challenges—of each season. 

As one of Brunswick’s leading agents, I’ve seen less experienced agents tell homeowners to wait until next year to sell their home. That’s terrible advice! With the right agent using the right strategy, you can sell your home quickly and for its full market value, even while you cook your Thanksgiving turkey. Call us today at 440-879-7260 to discuss selling YOUR home this holiday season.