IS THIS THE SEASON TO BE SELLING MY HOUSE?
Some of the most frequent questions that I get asked about selling a home at this time of year are: Should we take our house off the market during the Holiday time? Is it ok to put up a Christmas tree or decorate on the outside of the house? These are valid concerns to homeowners and I would like to address the “real buzz” about selling your home during this time of year.
Homeowners are selling for a reason. Maybe they are being transferred out of town. Another could be downsizing because of health reasons, or someone has built a home and it’s ready to be moved into. Whatever the reason, people HAVE to sell their home. If we allow the time of year or the economy to dictate our decisions, we miss out on opportunity. For instance, the potential buyers during November and January, are VERY serious buyers. They aren’t just browsing to see what is out there. Also, during this time period, there are less houses for sale because many homeowners DO take it off the market now. Less saturated markets, gives you a greater chance to sell.
When we are selling, we know we have to de-clutter to make space and to have less distractions. What we also want to provide for our viewers is a visual that your house is also a home. By putting up our Christmas tree, we reveal the warm and cozy lived- in feeling that will tell our potential buyers, we enjoy living here. So, go ahead and “decorate for the holidays. Keep in mind a rule of thumb is to remove one accent for another. If you are putting a Christmas wreath above the mantel, then remove what is up there now, and do so throughout the house. Just don’t add the decorations, replace them. This will limit the accent items, keeping down the amount of distractions.
We know that “curb appeal” is our one chance to make a great “first impression.” So with color and balance to your plan to decorate the outside, light up the front of the house. Place a holiday door mat and a wreath to the front porch. Light up the largest tree in the front lawn. Use the clear little Italian lights. Just make sure that it is easy on the eyes, and not over done.
When you enjoy your home, it shows. That’s what buyers are looking for at this time of year. They want to know that their future holds many wonderful memories of their holidays. Buyers need to see it happening as they search for their new dream home.
Have fun with it! Best wishes for a speedy and profitable sale and Happy Holidays.
Margie Gregori ASPM
MG HomeHighlights