Should I Take My Home Off the Market During the Holidays?
When you look at your calendar 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 "showtime" 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
unrewarded by 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! Most
top Realtors agree that taking your home off the market during the
Christmas season is a mistake. The house surely 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
a wonderful 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. Most agents 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. Agents believe
the home market is no more affected at Christmas than during other
"busy" periods. 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 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 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
Christmas time, 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 you 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. Possession and
closings are very negotiable.
Written by Blanche Evans
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