It is understandable why sellers are tempted to take their homes off the market between Thanksgiving and the New Year as they celebrate with family and friends (and figure prospective buyers are doing the same). The Realtors at ERA Doty Real Estate think the holidays are one of the most opportunistic times to capture buyers and here are some of the reasons why:
Houses usually show and smell better during the holidays! They’re cleaned and decorated for family gatherings. Welcoming a potential buyer into your home during a time that our culture focuses on hospitality and the home allows them to get a better picture of their own family holiday celebrations in the environment you’ve created.
Listing inventory can also run low during this time of overflowing calendars and seasonal obligations, so buyers typically have fewer homes to choose from. Simply put, your home has less competition! You may notice showing activity slowing down, but all of us agree that buyers who are actively looking at homes during the holidays are much more serious.
January is traditionally the month for job transfers. These relocating families often are not given a choice when they can start at their new location, so having your house on the market is crucial. 68% of transferees have children and getting settled in before the January semester begins or making arrangements for a move during spring break can be very important to the transaction.
What about the buyers who take vacation time during the holidays? Perfect timing for a husband and wife to look at homes together! Still another reason is many people want to purchase a home before year-end for tax purposes.
Don’t worry about showings during Christmas dinner…you can still restrict appointments during personal events! And no need to worry about having to move during the holidays if you get an offer…negotiations can be made for a delayed closing or extended occupancy until the holidays are over.
The bottom line? Marketing your home during the holiday season may result in fewer actual showings, but with more qualified and motivated buyers. With reduced local inventories, you’ll have less competition resulting in a quicker sale and better price!
