As the holidays are creeping up you might be tempted to take your home off the market, or even hold off on listing it until after the new year. Why should you list your home or keep it on the market? The first reason, of course being obvious, you can’t actually sell your home if it’s off the market!
This time of year can actually be ideal for selling, and here’s why.
1. Your listing will rise to the top
If homeowners in your neighborhood choose to take their house off the market, or not list it, it will reduce the inventory of homes for buyer’s to look at. That means that buyers who are looking will be more likely to discover your listing.
2. Your home looks and smells great during the holidays
With all of the holiday decorations, and the delicious aroma of cookies baking, and a fire in the fireplace, instant ambiance, which means your home will appeal to buyers’ senses in a way you can’t do any other time of year.
Also, chances are good that you might tap into some buyers sentimentality, because during the holidays we tend to feel nostalgic about family, home and memories. That could cause a nesting instinct to kick in, and that often results in a sale!
Just make sure you don’t go overboard with decorations though.
3. Usually people who buy during the holidays aren’t messing around
Things usually slow down in the weeks leading up to the holidays, but there are still people looking for homes and ready to pounce! People who are searching for a homes during the holidays, especially in areas where weather can get bad, buyer’s will literally weather the storms to visit your property.
4. Families often look for houses during school breaks
Relocating families often capitalize on holidays at a good time to move as not to disrupt children’s school schedule. They want to find the right property, have stress free negotiations, and get their family settled in before school starts up again.
5. It can be easier to close in December
Buyers can often get loans closed quicker in November and December than they usually would in the busier spring months, it all comes down to the holiday slowdown. Fewer home sales are on deck to process and lenders are motivated to close before the end of the year.