Tis the Season…to sell your home!

It’s common for sellers to wait until after the holidays to list their homes, or for those that have their home on the market to remove it and wait until after the holiday season to relist. The idea is that since no one is looking over the holidays, why not sit tight and wait for the spring market. Although there is some intuitive logic to this, it’s often not the best decision.

A few advantages to selling your home during the holiday season include;

Competition is at its lowest point of the year as many home owners wait until the New Year to list. During the typical spring market buyers are looking at many homes and selection is at its highest. But, during the holidays your home is likely one of the few in their criteria. This provides sellers with limited competition.

Holiday buyers are serious buyers. Although you may have dozens of showings during the busy spring season, a lot of those buyers are “tire-kickers”; people who are thinking of moving but do not have serious interest. If a buyer is looking during the holidays or winter months, chances are they are serious as they typically have to move due to relocation, etc. So although you won’t get the same volume of showings, you’ll have a more serious caliber of buyer looking.

Last but certainly not least; houses feel like home during the holidays. There is no better feeling then going home for the holidays and walking into a well decorated home, filled with holiday ambiance, decorations, and cooking. What better way to market your house as a buyer’s potential home then by creating that same homey holiday feeling?

If you are listing your home during the holidays here are a few tips and tricks;

1. We have a saying in real estate we call the 11 second rule; buyers usually know if your home is “it” within the first 11 seconds of walking in your front door, which is all well and good IF they can make it up to the door in one piece. If your home is on the market in the winter months it’s essential you keep all pathways, driveways, and stairs clear of ice and snow, and be well lit. There are obvious concerns of safety and liability, but I can tell you from experience that if a buyer falls on the way to the front door, that showing is over before it started. So remember; safety first!
2. Lighting up the night. Evident from the 11 second rule, the first impression is the best impression. If the buyer is spending that first 11 seconds in the dark, they probably aren’t going to be blown away. In winter, more showings happen after 5:00pm and it’s usually dark out by the time buyers arrive, so make sure to turn on all the lights so they can see your home at its best. If you are energy conscious, simply leave a note for the showing Realtor asking them to turn off the lights when they leave.
3. Holiday Décor. One of the best advantages you have in the holiday season is the opportunity to make your home feel festive and homey. It’s an excellent excuse to have your decorations up just a little bit earlier. Be sure to have all your holiday lights and tree on and showing to their best. But don’t go too overboard; you still want to follow the home staging rules of keeping your home clutter free even during the holidays.
4.  Keeping it Cozy. Create a comfortable and cozy environment in your home so buyers stay long enough to get a good feel for the space and features your home offers. One of the best ways to achieve this is simply by keeping your home at a warm and comfortable temperature. If you have a fireplace, make sure to have it on to create that ambiance. 
5. Cinnamon, Spice, and everything nice. We all love going home for the holidays and walking into the smell of freshly baked cookies and pies. The holidays provide an excellent opportunity to have fragrant candles or oils lit to create a full sensory experience. An easy way of creating the homey holiday scent is to have a cinnamon stick simmering in a pot of water on your stove. It fills the whole house with a wonderful, but not overly intrusive, scent.
6. The final touch is music to ensure a complete sensory experience. Be sure to keep it at low enough volume to not overwhelm the buyers. I recommend staying away from trendy or children geared holiday albums. Stick with the classics and soft instrumental music that will appeal to all demographics.

For more tips or to list your home for the holidays you can contact me anytime at pennington.remax@gmail.com or 905-375-0062