When you look at your November and
December calendars you may find the months already overloaded with
seasonal obligations -- shopping, entertaining, children's pageants,
charity work, decorating the house, and so much more. If you are also
trying to sell your home, you are under extra pressure to keep your home
in "showroom" condition. And that could be the last thing you
need before the holiday spirit is broken.
It is understandable why you would be tempted to take
your home off the market during the holidays. And the list of
justifications is long. If you are too busy, buyers may be also, and you
may find your efforts unrewarding and without enough showings. And what if
you do get an offer? You may be faced with the possibility of packing and
moving during the busiest time of the year. Besides, you can give your
house a rest, and it will have better momentum after the holidays. Better
to just pack it in and start fresh in January, right?
But wait! Top-selling Realtor Jennie Ling says taking
your home off the market during the Christmas season is a mistake. A vice
president of the largest independently owned brokerage firm in Texas,
Henry S. Miller, Realtors, and multiple Top Producer award winner, Ling
exclaims, "The house sure isn't going to sell off the market! What is
the advantage of that? So you're busy. Let your Realtor do the work. You
can leave in the morning, go to work, go shopping, and let your Realtor
take care of things."
"The holidays are my best-selling period. Why?
Because most people take off work sometime during the season. The husband
and wife are both off and want to see houses. I showed homes on New Year's
Day last year. I like the holidays because the buyers have more time, and
they can look at homes together."
Before you take your home off the market, consider
the following points:
Although buyer activity may appear to slow down, the
buyers who are actively looking during the holidays are that much more
serious. Ling believes the home market is no more affected at Christmas
than during other "busy" period. If that were so, the market
would shut down throughout the year as families concentrate on spring
weddings, June graduations, summer vacations, and autumn back-to-school
activities.
Many buyers deliberately choose to shop for a home after
the busy spring and summer rush. They know that it will be easier to look,
and that negotiations will be less stressful. They may not have children,
or they may have grown children, so moving to accommodate the school year
isn't a consideration. Finding the right home at the right price, however,
is.
Relocating families often don't have a choice in when
they can leave for their new destination. Although 68% of transferring
families have children, many families have to transfer during the middle
of the school year. These families are that much more motivated to get
their families settled in before either before the January semester
begins, or to arrange for the move during spring break in March. If you
sign a contract by New Year's Eve, the timing couldn't be more perfect.
At Christmastime, our culture focuses on family and the
home. Preparing for the indoor activities of winter is one of the most
enjoyable periods of family life. Allowing buyers to view your home during
this most hospitable of seasons lets them better picture their own family
life in the attractive environment you have created.
When is your home ever more beautiful and inviting? You
have cleaned and decorated, and your home looks like a picture postcard.
If the results are good enough for family and friends, they will surely be
good enough to impress your buyers. Get the family team on board to do a
five-minute blitz pick-up every morning to keep holiday messes to a
minimum.
With reduced inventories and motivated buyers, you will
have all the members of the MLS on your team. You may find you have more
showings than you would if your marketed your home during a busier time of
the year.
If you do get a contract, you can arrange the terms to
suit your needs. If moving during the holidays isn't an option, you can
put in the closing date of your choice. "Most people can close 30 to
60 days after a contract is written, so there is plenty of time,"
Ling says. "Possession and closings are very negotiable."
