Holiday Home Selling Tips
Looking to sell your home while the holidays are speedily approaching?
If you’re thinking of waiting until the new year to list your home, there’s still plenty of time!
Because here’s the deal: As eager as you may be to sell your home before the holidays, plenty of people out there are dying to buy a place before the holidays descend, too. So if you play your cards right, it is entirely possible to not only find a buyer, but also close the deal and move out before Santa’s sleigh starts making the rounds.
Here are some of our secrets on how to sell a home fast, even during the hectic holiday rush.
Polish your online listing
Because the weather outside isn’t the greatest this time of year, buyers want to do much of their looking online. With that in mind, focus on making your home so alluring they’re willing to put on those parkas and check it out in person.
Make sure that your home has an online listing that’s up to date and has optimal photos available, since buyers usually don’t like to go out in cold weather. Most home buyers vet potential homes through online listings before reaching out, so ensuring your home is presented in the best light online is a good way to attract potential buyers.
Play up the holiday features
Buyers want to envision themselves settling into a home in time to celebrate that first Thanksgiving or Christmas. We suggest accenting architectural features such as a fireplace or sweeping staircase to showcase how great your home could look for the holidays!
Add twinkle lights to a fireplace or table decorations to your dining room to help potential buyers visualize their future home. If you have something like a bay window where a Christmas tree might be, clear the clutter before showing your home.
For sellers with a spacious dining room, the table can be decorated for holiday entertaining. This is an ideal opportunity to create that ‘wow’ moment among buyers, so sellers may want to consider purchasing new tableware and accessories that are trending in home design. This gets buyers excited about making the house their new home just in time for the holidays.
Home decor aside, a property description that highlights the features that really count during the holidays. For example, “spacious dining room, ideal for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner” will appeal to a buyer’s emotions.
Don’t overdo the holiday decor
While it’s good to be jolly, don’t go over the top. Homes do look their best during the holidays, but simple is best. Too big or too many adornments can crowd your home and distract buyers.
Be flexible with showings
If you want buyers bidding for your home, they’re going to want to check out every nook and cranny, so you’d better be ready and willing to let ’em.
The best thing that sellers can do during the holiday search is keep the home clutter-free and stay open and available for last-minute and short-notice showings. Oftentimes homeowners go out of town, guests come to visit, or owners have their own entertaining schedule, and prefer not to have showings to interrupt this time. At the end of the day, the more open, available, and flexible you are as a homeowner for showings, the more your home will be seen and greater your chance for a sale.
Make sure your home is move-in ready
Having your home pre-inspected before you list can accelerate your sale in three key ways.
1. It makes your house more marketable: Buyers feel safer making an offer on a home that’s an open book during the home-selling process.
2. It can save you money: Once you know what issues need to be fixed, you can have those problems taken care of before you list. The cleaner and more issue-free you can make your home, the faster its likely to sell, which can save you money in the long run.
3. It allows you to highlight your homes assets: New flooring or granite counters installed? Electric wiring redone? Brand-new appliances or furnace? These are huge selling points, and your home inspection report will reflect all of the improvements and upgrades you’ve made.
Make curb appeal a top priority
As the leaves begin to fall, maintaining the exterior of your home becomes even more important. Bare trees equal a more exposed home, so touch up the paint, clean the gutters, and spruce up the yard. Paint the front door, hang a decorative wreath, and install a decorative welcome mat. In addition, keep buyers’ safety in mind as well by making sure stairs and walkways are free and accessible.
And don’t forget to highlight the outdoor features buyers can enjoy year-round. If you have a fire pit or hot tub, show it off.
Offer incentives
While competition is greatly reduced around Thanksgiving, that alone may not be enough to encourage offers.
Incentives put you ahead of the pack. Offer what you can, ranging from updated appliances to paying closing costs, offering extras like TVs, and be flexible with negotiations.
Ready to get your home on the market? Call us at (281)912-5582 today or click here for your free market analysis!