The holiday season may have you feeling jolly, but is it really a good time to sell your property? If you’re preparing to sell your home, you may question when the right time is to sell your property. Christmas is a time that comes up often, with mixed opinions. There are both pros and cons to selling your property over the holidays, which are worth considering.
Disadvantages of Selling over Christmas
One of the obvious disadvantages of selling your property over the holidays is that this is a time when many people go on vacation. This could lead to fewer buyers being in town to see your property. As mentioned above, it may also be more difficult to find the right real estate agent to work with, because many agents will be off work spending time with their families as well! Be sure that you have all the resources you need to sell during this time period.
Another factor to consider is the impression that you will make on buyers by selling over the holidays. Buyers may be slightly suspicious, wondering why you were so keen to sell your property during this time rather than spending time with your family. They may think that you are desperate to sell because there is something wrong with the property, or to satisfy a financial debt. If they think you are desperate to sell quickly, this could lead to lower offers. Selling at the wrong time could lead to lower profits or dragged-out negotiation as a result.
Advantages of Selling over Christmas
Despite these potential downsides, there are also several positive aspects to selling over Christmas. In fact, it may be possible to get a better price during this time if you plan the right strategy. During this time period, the number of available houses for sale decreases. This reduces competition between sellers and instead increases the competition among buyers. It’s best to find a local real estate agent who will have up-to-date knowledge about how the holidays could affect your chances of a fast, profitable sale.
If you’re in an area that sees a higher level of competition between buyers during the holidays, this could lead to offers that are even higher than your original asking price. Another advantage is that buyers who are looking for properties during the holidays are usually serious about purchasing something, and this could lead to a quick sale. Most buyers looking at this time want to be able to move in before a new year begins.
Christmas is also a naturally festive and joyful time. It falls during the first month of summer, which provides a bright, cheerful and sunny setting for the home. This combined with holiday cheer can make your home seem extra inviting.
Make your House Festive
If you decide to stage your home with Christmas decorations, use them sparingly to avoid crossing over into tacky territory. Sellers who have already prepared their home for sale will most likely have already moved clutter. You won’t want to negate these efforts by replacing your old clutter with an overabundance of new decorations! It’s a good idea to strike the right balance between holiday spirit and a large, spacious property.
For example, rather than filling your living room with a large Christmas tree you could choose a tasteful table-top version instead. This will serve as a cheerful centrepiece, without overcrowding the room. Rather than choosing garish banners, you can opt for the more natural evergreen garlands. Instead of leaving all of your presents out and about, you can hide them somewhere else or group them into attractive arrangements of 3 or 5.
There are both pros and cons to selling over Christmas, which are worth exploring. If you decide that this is a good time for you, follow these basic tips and you’ll end up with cash to spare after the holidays!
Article originally published on Sell My Castle