Deciding to put your home on the market during the holiday season can be a strategic choice, but it comes with some considerations. Here are the pros and cons of selling your home during the holiday season to help you make an informed decision:
PRO:
1. Less Competition: Many homeowners avoid listing their homes during the holidays, which can result in fewer properties on the market. This reduced competition may attract more serious buyers who have specific reasons to move during the holidays, such as job relocations.
2. Motivated Buyers: Buyers actively searching for homes during the holidays often have a strong motivation to move, which can lead to quicker and more serious offers.
3. Festive Decor: Decorating your home for the holidays can create a warm and inviting atmosphere, making it easier for potential buyers to envision themselves living in the space.
4. Tax Benefits: Buyers looking to take advantage of tax benefits related to homeownership may be more motivated to purchase before the end of the year.
CONS:
1. Reduced Foot Traffic: Some buyers may be preoccupied with holiday activities and travel, leading to decreased home showings and open house attendance.
2. Market Slowdown: In some areas, the real estate market can experience a slowdown during the holiday season, which may result in longer days on market and potentially lower offers.
3. Staging Challenges: While holiday decorations can enhance your home’s ambiance, they can also clutter the space and distract buyers from its true features. Be mindful of balancing decor with the need to showcase your property’s best assets.
My Advice
Scale Back the Holiday Decorations
If you decide to keep your home on the market, though, this is the year to back off on the decorations. Too many decorations can be overwhelming and distracting. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that buyers will “see past it,” because they can’t.
Minimizing decorations will make your home appear more spacious and will keep pathways clear. When buyers enter your home, you want them to imagine putting their furniture in each room and making the place their own, and they can’t do that if your holiday decorations dominate the stage. Further, by avoiding excessive family pictures and personalized decorations, you protect your privacy during home showings.
1) Stage for the holidays. Think clean, cozy, simple.
Holiday decor can help prospective homebuyers imagine your house as their future home. If you have a fireplace, decorate it with garland and hang stockings from the mantle. Use candles and essential oil diffusers with iconic scents of the season, such as pumpkin spice or balsam and cedar. You especially want to keep your home clutter-free and need to clean it regularly. Belongings can easily begin to pile up during the holidays, so make sure you stay on top of it. Create an environment that makes prospective homebuyers feel comfortable and warm the moment they walk through your front door. You want them to feel at home.
2) Price your home to sell
3) Make your curb appeal a top priority
Your neighborhood may actually look more appealing to homebuyers during the holiday season. You don’t want to go overboard with your exterior holiday decorations, but you want to make your house shine along with the other homes on your block.
5) Turn on the (holiday) lights
This is a great time to replace burnt out light bulbs and fix light switches that aren’t working. You may also want to consider making all your interior lighting the same color temperature, such as a soft white which brightens rooms without giving you that institutional feel. This will help with consistent lighting throughout your home, creating a balanced feel as potential homebuyers walk through each room.
6) Take professional real estate photos when selling your home during the holidays
The best thing you can do for your house in terms of marketing it to potential homebuyers is getting professional real estate photos taken. In fact, research shows that professional photos can help sell your house faster and for more money. This is the one time you don’t want to have your holiday decor on display. In fact, getting your professional photos taken of your house before you decorate is a must because holiday decorations essentially create a time-stamp of your home.
In summary, whether you should put your home on the market during the holiday season depends on your specific circumstances. If you are ready to sell, then the Holiday time is a great time to put your home on the market.
I can help you navigate the unique challenges and opportunities that come with selling during the holiday season.
For more insights on Huntsville’s real estate trends or to connect with a trusted real estate professional, visit Terri Coleman, Your Next Door Agent, at www.myrealtorterri.com or contact her directly at (936) 581-4434. Specializing in North Houston, including Spring, The Woodlands, Conroe, Lake Conroe, and Willis, Terri is committed to serving and guiding clients through their real estate journeys.
