How to Sell Your Home Over the Holidays
There are real benefits to selling a home during the holiday season from November through January. Because there are fewer homes for sale, this means less competition, and as a result, these homes may command more money. In addition, buyers are typically more serious and prepared to close a deal more quickly. Whatever the reason, if you want or need to sell at this time of year, just remember to follow these tips for selling your home over the holidays.
Work with a reliable realtor – Be sure to hire an agent who will work hard for you at this time of year. First and foremost, they need to assure you they won’t disappear over Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year’s. Your agent should also have experience in selling houses over the holidays. In other words, they know how to seek out motivated buyers, like people relocating for a job, graduating college students, or others with an interest in getting the current year tax benefits. Having a reliable, hard-working agent will reduce your stress and allow you and your family more time together to enjoy the holidays.
Minimize the holiday decorations – We love our own seasonal decorations, but to buyers, they can become a distraction. You want buyers to be able to imagine the space as their own instead of yours. While you don’t need to abstain altogether from decorating for the season, be sure to keep holiday decorations to a minimum. Don’t overcrowd with knick-knacks on a mantel or otherwise hide important selling features. Select decorations that have fall or winter themes rather than religious ones to avoid offending some buyers. It’s easy and delightful to display greenery, like pine bows, or centerpieces made up of pine cones or other winter themes. If you simply cannot give up your Christmas tree, consider getting a very small one or even a table-top version instead.
Make your home cozy – Buyers’ decisions about a home are directly impacted by emotions they experience during a visit. Be sure to stage your home in a way that will make it feel comfortable and appealing during showings. Make sure the heat is set to an appropriate temperature. Have some soft, pleasant music playing in the background. Consider having a few holiday treats out on the counter for visitors with festive napkins or plates. And prepare something with heart-warming aromas of the season, like a fresh-baked pie or hot apple cider with cinnamon.
Use high-quality photos and videos – At any time of the year, buyers may begin their house hunt by perusing online descriptions, photos, and videos of listed homes. This is especially the case when colder weather drives people to remain indoors. It is so, so important, therefore, to post only top-notch photos of your home. Include shots of other seasons like spring and summer so the buyer can visualize it at other times of the year as well. Consider also creating and posting a walk-through video; nowadays video is a must-use medium when it comes to marketing. For any photo and video, be sure to demonstrate that your home is well maintained inside and out. Touch up paint, rake leaves, shovel snow, and clean the gutters.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices John M. Brabham Real Estate Agency has provided quality service to Sumter, SC and the surrounding areas for over 60 years. Our talented agents are experts in the Sumter real estate market, and will help you buy, sell or rent. Whatever your real estate needs are, our team has the knowledge and expertise to help you! Call us at (803) 775-1201 to schedule an appointment or visit us online. Please also follow us on Facebook!
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Sources:
https://www.thebalance.com/selling-your-home-during-the-holidays-1799068
https://www.hgtv.com/design/real-estate/top-10-tips-for-selling-your-home-during-the-holidays