Trying to sell your home? Although you may be tempted to take your home off the market during the holidays, don’t. There may be fewer potential buyers in November and December, but there also are fewer available listings, which can help increase the odds yours will sell. Another bonus: The holidays provide a unique opportunity to showcase your home during the most festive season of the year. Here are some ideas to make your home stand out:
Make your home festive — but not too festive. You don’t want to go overboard like Clark Griswold in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. But you can put out a few simple decorations to liven up your home, such as a holiday candle or a holiday flower arrangement. A wreath on the front door is a nice touch. If you can bake a batch of cookies — everyone loves chocolate chip — and have them cooling while potential buyers walk through your home, it will make your kitchen warm and inviting.
Keep the thermostat turned up. Everyone wants to save money – especially if you’ve already moved out of the home you’re trying to sell. But this isn’t the time of the year you want potential buyers to walk into a cold home. Keep it warm. Do you normally keep some heating vents closed in rooms you don’t use? Open them up. And if you have one, consider turning on a gas fireplace while your home is being shown.
Price it right. Homes priced right are selling quickly in most areas. With the help of your Realtor, look at comparable sales and come up with a price that will appeal to potential buyers.
Showing your home during the holidays isn’t fun. But if you do it right, you may be able to attract a buyer before the new year, when many sellers rush put their homes back on the market. Good luck!