by MJ Stearns
The holiday season is typically not peak listing time for real estate. But with the current situation, low inventory with great demand, it might not be such a bad idea. There are a few buyers then, say, in May or June, meaning that homes tend to take longer to sell during the holidays, so sellers often wait to list until spring. This might not be the same for 2021. Selling your home during the holidays can be tricky. Some people need to sell over the holidays, and some buyers have no alternative but to buy a home during the winter months if they’ve been given notice at a rental. Are you ready to sell your home this holiday season? Pros for selling during the holidays: With there being a low supply of homes, and not a lot of competition, you may benefit from the lack of inventory. Reduced inventory over the holidays generally means less competition from other sellers. Homeowners who want to sell during the holiday season won’t have too much competition. That puts them in the driver’s seat. There is more time for showings with lots of people taking time off over the holidays: you may find it easier to squeeze in showings during off hours than you would during spring/summer months when everyone is working or taking vacations. Homebuyers are more serious. If buyers are buying in the winter, it’s probably because of a change in their circumstances, such as a job change or moving to be near a family member. They’re most likely motivated to get the deal done quickly. It is still very much a sellers’ market right now. Cons for selling during the holidays include the following: It’s harder to keep your home looking good. The holidays are an inconvenient time to be ready for a home showing at a moment’s notice. Not everybody keeps the house spick-and-span when cooking, wrapping gifts, and throwing parties, and the outdoor curb appeal is much harder to achieve in the winter. Low offers could come from first-time homebuyers who don’t know any better, thinking you are desperate for selling at this time. Buyers might try to negotiate or give you a lowball offer. Picking the right agent helps with this process. They do all of the negotiating for you. Tips for selling this season: Scale back the holiday decorations. If you decide to keep your home on the market through the holiday season, try to scale back on your decorations. Too many decorations can be overwhelming and distracting to potential buyers. Minimizing decorations will make your home feel more spacious. When a buyer enters 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 the holiday decorations are dominating the area. Consider hiring a home stager to do seasonal home staging with the buyer in mind. Make sure not to block or cover up important selling features such as fireplace mantles or stairs. ‘Tis the home selling season!
