Selling During the Holidays Is Not All Bad

Buyers can, and do, get serious during this busy time of year.

By: Shannon Petrie

The holiday season is generally known as the worst time to sell a home. While sales do tend to drop off between November and January, there are actually some good reasons to sell your home during these months:

Buyers are more serious. Anyone shopping for a home during the holidays probably has to buy before a certain deadline. January is a popular month for job transfers, so some buyers may be looking to relocate before the new year. Investors may also want to close before the end of the year for tax reasons. If you live near a university, students and staff may be looking for homes between academic sessions, and if you live near a military base, servicemen and women may be moving to the area. Work with your agent to target these motivated buyers.
Buyers have more time to house-hunt. Some buyers purposely wait until their families are together for holiday vacations to start looking for a home.
There are fewer homes for sale. Lots of sellers take their homes off the market during the holidays, assuming no one will be buying at this time. But with serious buyers still out there and a lower inventory of homes, your home has a good chance of standing out.
Services are more available. Business slows down for real estate agents, lenders, home inspectors, appraisers and title companies during the holidays, so they all have more time to spend with clients.
Homes show better in the winter. Decked out in lights and garland, homes often look their best during the holiday months.

The holidays are stressful enough without having to think about staging and open houses, so if you’re not truly motivated to sell, it’s probably best to wait a few months. But if you absolutely have to sell, don’t be discouraged. A good agent can take the burden off of your shoulders, giving you more time to enjoy the season.

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