The holiday season from November through January can be considered a tough time of year to put a home on the market. Although, even as difficult as it may seem, the holiday season does have its advantages: holiday buyers tend to be more serious and competition is less fierce with fewer homes being actively marketed.
Below are a few tips from HGTV on preparing your home to sell during the holidays. Read the full article here.
Deck the halls, but don’t go overboard
Homes often look their best during the holidays, but sellers should be careful not to overdo it on the holiday decorations. When the adornments are too large or there are too many of them, can crowd your home and distract buyers.
Hire a reliable real estate agent
Holiday season means travel for many families. That could include your real estate agent. When selecting an agent, it is important to ask their travel plans during Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year's. Find an agent that will go above and beyond to get your home sold.
Seek out motivated buyers
Anyone house hunting during the holidays must have a good reason for doing so. Work with your agent to target buyers on a deadline, including people relocating for jobs in your area, investors on tax deadlines, college students and staff, and military personnel, if you live near a military base.
Price it to sell
No matter what time of year, a home that’s priced low for the market will attract more buyers. Many real estate agents advise sellers to slash their prices before putting a home on the market, versus gradually making small price reductions. Find out the value of your home
Make curb appeal a top priority
When autumn rolls around and the trees start to lose their leaves, maintaining the exterior of your home becomes even more important. Bare trees create a more exposed home. It is advised to touch up the paint, clean the gutters, and spruce up the yard. In addition, make sure stairs and walkways are free of snow, ice, and leaves. Here are some curb appeal tips
Take top-notch real estate photos
When the weather outside is frightful, homebuyers are likely to start their house hunt from the comfort of their homes by browsing listings on the Internet. High-quality photos of your home will make a good first impression. If possible, have a summer or spring photo of your home available so buyers can see how it looks year-round.
Give house hunters a place to escape from the cold
Make your home feel cozy and inviting during showings by increasing the heat, playing soft classical music, and offering homemade holiday treats. The longer potential buyers are in your home, the more time they can admire its best features.
Relax — the new year is just around the corner
The holidays are stressful enough with gifts to buy, dinners to prepare and relatives to entertain. Take a moment to remind yourself that if you don't sell now, there's always next year, which, luckily, is only a few days away.
For more information on how to sell your home during the holidays, give Tim Anderson with BloomTree Realty in Prescott, Arizona, a call at 928-458-7865. Tim has been selling homes in Prescott for many years, he knows the challenges, and works hard to sell your home quick and for more money.