Don’t start listing house during holidays but get it ready

Happy Holidays! I’m sure that is all you’ve been thinking about lately. Seeing family, experiencing the mad rush of Black Friday, Christmas music in the air, and Christmas cookies on the plate. It’s no wonder that the real estate market takes a dip during this season. However, just because the market dips, doesn’t mean it’s too early to think of your plans for after the holidays.

Come January, the real estate market will start spooling up again, and if you’re looking to sell your house, you need to make sure that you’re ready for the boost. Here are some things to consider to get ready for January.

Don’t List Right Now

If you haven’t listed your home already, don’t do it right now. Every website uses an algorithm that determines what you see and what you don’t. Understandably, if no one has bought your house in an extended period of time, then it’s not the most popular thing out there, and it will not get a good read from these sites. So, with how crazy the next few weeks will be, don’t list now and add three weeks on market.

Small Renovations

The cold weather means that you’re going to be inside more and more. Now, surely you will be trying to stay sane, but nothing helps sanity like a project. It’s a place to lose yourself, and forget the craze that is going on outside. You might want to consider small things like recaulking the bathtub, patching drywall, or painting the room you’ve been neglecting.

Get Ready to take down Decorations

By the time that we come out the other side of the holidays, people are going to need a break. Make sure when you are listing your home, that you don’t have all your decorations out. It may seem trivial, but they’ve seen so much holiday décor over the past few months, that they will not want to see more right now.

Curb Appeal

Yes, the one that shows up on every list related to selling your house. For all of the times you’ve

heard it, it cannot be overstated. If you’re house doesn’t produce that ‘ahhhh’ feeling in a buyer, then you’ve missed the mark. First impressions are huge, and curb appeal is your house’s first impression – make a good first impression.

So, here are the basics, if your house needs a fresh coat of paint, give it a once over. The same goes

for the fence; if you have a fence around the outside that looks beaten and weathered, give it a little attention. Did you pick up the leaves in the yard from fall? If not, go get some bags and clean them up.

Curb appeal is one of the easiest ways to make your home sell, and for some reason people refuse to take care of it.

Fire

Nothing helps beat back the feel of the cold like fire. From candles to fireplaces, make sure your home is inviting on the inside. People are coming in from the cold to see your house, don’t be scared to have a fire going if you have a fire place. Also, feel

free to crank up the heat a little bit.

Also, an inviting scented candle is a great option. For you holiday lovers, you can keep your holiday scents, so long as they are warm and inviting. With your warmth, and inviting candles, you are likely to show just how homey the house can be to perspective buyers.

••• If you’re looking to sell your house in the coming months, just hit the pause button for the next few weeks. Come back with a

vengeance in the new year. Good luck and happy holidays!

IMAGE SUBMITTED BY MAUREEN HUGHES