Trying to sell your home this holiday season? While the period from November until January is considered the worst time to put your home on the market, you will have less competition and will deal with fewer casual house hunters. Attract holiday buyers this season with these helpful selling tips.
Hire a reliable agent
When
selling your home during the holidays, you want to ensure you have an agent you can count on. The holiday season can be distracting, and your agent should be focused on finding interested buyers for your home. Ask trusted friends and relatives for recommendations for a focused agent that will rise to the challenge of selling your home during this chaotic time of year.
Pay attention to curb appeal
As the weather gets colder, the leaves fall from the trees and begin to collect on your lawn. It's important to
prioritize curb appeal and make sure your home looks its best. Make sure your lawn is raked, shrubbery neatly trimmed, and debris cleared away. If trees are bare, your home's exterior will be more visibly exposed--make sure paint is touched-up, gutters are clean, windows are scrubbed, and any necessary repairs are made.
Decorate tastefully
A benefit to selling your home during the holidays is certainly the aesthetics--homes never look more beautiful than they do decorated for the holiday season. However, it is a good idea to keep your festive touches moderate, and refrain from overly-religious or exceptionally gaudy decorations. Classy, tasteful lights will make your home glow without being too flashy or garish. If you have a tree, keep ornaments understated. Avoid giant plastic light-up snowmen and inflatable characters on your lawn--you don't want to detract from your home with overbearing decorations.
Take photo and video
The cold weather may keep potential buyers indoors and make them less likely to venture out and see your home. Take high-quality photos and video of your home to post online. This will give interested buyers a chance to take a virtual tour of your property before visiting in person. Adding photos of your home in the spring and summer when flowers are in full bloom is also a nice touch for your online listing.
Make your home cozy and inviting
When hosting an open house, your home should be a warm and cozy escape from the cold. Don't be frugal about your heating bill-- this is the time to crank up the heat, or light a crackling fire to show off your beautiful stone fireplace. Place some soft, relaxing music and light a soothing holiday scented candle, such as apple cinnamon, peppermint or pine. Baking festive treats or setting out hot chocolate is also a gracious way to warm up your potential buyers. The more pleasant their experience is viewing your home, the longer they will stay to admire it--and the better impression it will leave.
Price to sell
The holiday season is not a common time for large purchases. Gift-buying, travel expenses, and party-hosting takes a toll on wallets and credit card debt--prospective buyers will certainly be looking for a deal this time of year. If selling your home quickly is imperative, pricing it low for the market will help ensure a sale during this difficult selling time. Slashing your price before putting your home on the market will attract more interested home-seekers initially than lowering the asking price slowly as time goes on.