Tips for listing during the holidays
pattiross@royallepage.ca @Pattirosshfx
Patti Ross is a full-time professional Realtor® and home improvement expert helping people buy, sell and improve their homes in HRM for more than 10 years.
The holiday season is upon us and people’s attention is turning to holiday shopping, parties and baking.
At first glance, the holiday season may not seem like a good time to list your home for sale, but this season does have its advantages.
While there may be fewer buyers in the market, those who are looking are serious and are ready to move. They are motivated and prepared to write an offer when they find the right house.
Another advantage is reduced inventory. Many sellers decide to take their homes off the market until the new year, which means there will be less competition for your home.
Here are a few tips to help ensure your listing is at the top of a buyer’s wish list.
Decorations can help
Holiday decorations can enhance the attractiveness and the appeal of your home making it more inviting to potential buyers. Keep the colour palette simple and and consistent with your decor. If your home decor is simple, white and modern, consider contemporary silver decorations. A warm, earthy decor lends itself to rich cranberries and gold. These simple colour palettes will not overwhelm potential buyers.
Keep religious decor to a minimum. Remember you want the buyer to be able to envision themselves living in your home and this can be difficult if your decorations are too personal. You may want to consider hiring a professional stager to assist you in se- lecting which holiday decorations to display and which to save for next year.
But don’t overdo it
The goal is always to create the illusion of space, so less is more. This still applies to decorating your home for the holidays. Tasteful decorations used sparingly can highlight important features of your home. Decorations that are too large, or having too many, can overwhelm the buyer. Don’t assume that buyers can see past your decorations or clutter. Instead, use a small arrangement to highlight and draw attention a beautiful fireplace mantel, or a simple garland to draw attention to a staircase, being careful not to hide it.
When selecting the Christmas tree, keep it as small as possible, maybe even consider a table-top tree. If you decide to put up a full size tree, select a skinny tree so it does not take up valuable floor space and make the room appear smaller. If possible, place the Christmas tree in a corner so it does not block off any pathways where buyers will be walking during their viewing. Keep gifts displayed under the tree to a minimum and piled neatly, careful not to take up too much visual floor space.
Create a cosy atmosphere
With your holiday decorations to a minimum, you can create a cosy and inviting atmosphere for buyers. Keep the heat at a warm, comfortable temperature, play soft classical music and offer holiday treats for viewings. If possible, bake gingerbread cookies prior to a viewing and set out a plate of cookies for the potential buyers to enjoy. Or simmer spiced apple cider on the stove prior to the viewing and leave cups and a note for the buyers to help themselves to some . Refrain from using plug-in air fresheners or scented candles.
Manage viewing times
If you think it will be too stressful and inconvenient, if not impossible, to be prepared to have your home “show ready” at a moment’s notice, discuss setting up a viewing plan with your Re- altor. Create a plan, such as requesting appropriate advance notice for viewings, or that viewings be at specified times of the day if possible. Buyers will respect that it is a busy time of year and will generally be sympathetic to booking times that are convenient for the sellers.
Price to sell
No matter what the season, it is always important to price your home competitively. No single factor has more impact on the successful sale of your home than pricing. Competitively priced homes generate more viewings and offers and ultimately sell in a shorter period of time, while properties priced too high can have a difficult time selling. Discuss the options with your Realtor and together plan an effective pricing strategy for your home.
If you do decide to list your house during the holiday season, there are a few things to keep in mind. Remember, many lawyers offices and banks close during the holidays. Real estate agents and their offices can also take time off over this period, so expect the sales process may take a bit longer than usual should you receive an offer. It’s best to have a conversation with your Realtor so everyone knows the process and expectations.
Happy holidays.