Selling Your Home During the Holidays and Avoiding the Major Pitfalls
Selling or buying real estate can be one of the most exciting, but also one of the most stressful experiences of our lives. The holidays bring an additional level of stress for those contemplating selling a home during the holidays. But don’t fret, there are some benefits to selling this time of year and there are a few things you can do to make the transaction a success.
For those not prepared, the pressures of listing your home during the holidays can put a major damper on the festivities. If you avoid some critical pitfalls, you can find success in selling your home during the holiday season.
Keep the decorations simple
As is always true when listing a home, curb appeal is crucial. Take advantage of the season and add the traditional holiday décor, but don’t go overboard. Keep the decorations traditional and allow the charm of your home to shine.
If the decorations take away or conceal some of the great features of your home, opt for more simple decoration, like strands of lights that are not too visible during the day.
The advice remains true for the interior as well. Don’t bring out the decorations your children made every year they were in elementary school. Create a festive and cozy atmosphere but avoid making your home feel cluttered.
Be available
A major reason homes do not hit the market during the holidays is the seller is not readily available to show the home. Not to suggest you will be present during the showing, but a lot of people tend to make plans that involve having relatives over, holiday parties, vacation days at home with the children, etc. All of this limits the number of showings possible for the property and will decrease the chances of making a sale.
If you are selling during the holiday season, spend time at your relative’s home this year and skip on hosting a holiday party, I am sure you usual guests will understand.
Price the home to sell
Everyone knows, springtime is the preferred time to list a home, but it brings a large amount of competition. In selling during the holidays, you will have a smaller number of potential buyers, but you have a great opportunity to stand out in the less crowded market.
If you price the home closer to the lowest offer you are willing to accept, and you market your home appropriately by adhering to some of the advice mentioned above, your home will be attractive to buyers not wanting to waste limited time and energy negotiating.
If you are still on the fence and a little apprehensive to the idea of selling your house during the holidays, just keep in mind the benefits you can reap by closing prior to December 31st. Financial Guru Dave Ramsey even recommends you sell by the end of the year.
If you close before the end of the year, you will be able to claim the deductions on your next return. Some of the things you will be able to deduct are your mortgage interest, private mortgage insurance, and property taxes.
We hope your holidays bring you cheer, happiness, and, by taking our advice, a smooth and profitable real estate transaction!
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