Loading ...So here’s the deal. It’s the holidays. You know, the season of rushing around in 10 different directions, worrying about office parties, shopping, Holiday cards, finding a parking space at the mall, and all the other assorted stresses that send most of us into overload. And if you are trying to sell your home, certainly the last thing you want is to have some Realtor calling you 2 days before Christmas wanting to show your home when you have your whole family coming in from Colorado, and you’re trying to find that recipe for candied yams that you saw on Emerile Live! So you do what most sellers do this time of year… take your home off the market. But is that really the smartest thing to do? I know, the holidays are already stressful enough without adding the pressure of showing your home. But before you take your home off the market, there are several compelling reasons to consider leaving your home on the market this holiday season:
1. Decorations. Few things add to the emotional appeal of a home like holiday decorations. For many, your home never looks better than it does during the holidays. You know, the Christmas tree, the lights, the stockings by the warm fire, Harry Connick playing carols… you get the picture. Your home will often have extraordinary emotional appeal this time of year, and it is appeal that sells homes.
2. Competition. When other sellers take their homes off the market, it improves the chances of your home selling. From the standpoint of supply, it makes sense to have your home for sale when there are fewer homes to compete with.
3. Motivated buyers. While it is true that there are generally fewer buyers out during the holiday season, the buyers who are out looking are generally more motivated than the typical spring market buyers, many of whom tend to be exploring their options. Not many buyers who are willing to make it a priority to see houses this time of year are simply out exploring options. Rather, they tend to be serious buyers with some pressing motivation to find a home NOW.
4. Vacation. Buyers will often have time to see homes during the holidays because they have time off work, and it is easier for them to shop for homes during the week this time of year as opposed to other seasons.
If you are concerned about giving unfettered access to agents to show your home this time of year, you can always remove the lockbox and ask that the home be shown by appointment only so you have sufficient time to prepare for any showings you might get. Buyers are often very understanding about showings this time of year.
So maybe it’s time to keep your home on the market, break out the Martha Stewart decorating tips, and make your home a winter wonderland showplace. You never know, you might end up selling your home and having a real reason to break out the champagne this holiday season.
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Home for the Holidays