The holidays are actually a good time to buy or sell

must meet a certain timetable, such as closing by the end of the year.

Appraisers, title companies, home inspectors, surveyors and the like take time off, too. Some may be out of town visiting relatives, and some even close down completely, for a week or more at a time. Ditto for insurance companies, recording offices and even lenders. So scheduling becomes an issue that must — but can be — addressed.

But back on the positive side of the ledger, in many markets at this time of year, you don’t have to worry about keeping the grass cut or the shrubs pruned so your house makes a good first impression. You’ll still have to rake the leaves and keep the street, driveway and walkway clear of ice and snow. But probably not as frequently as mowing and yanking weeds out of your flower beds.

Inside, your holiday decorations will make the house festive and welcoming. Yes, you’ll have to keep the place tidy.

But nothing is as inviting as holiday decor.

“Decorated homes engage the emotions,” says Debbie Reynolds of Platinum Properties in Clarksville, Tennessee. “Remember: Emotions buy.”

You’ll still have to be flexible and prepared to show your place at a moment’s notice. But you’d have to do that anyway, no matter when you put your home on the market. So why not do it when the place shows itself off? Indeed, the holidays are probably the one time of the year when sellers can get by with minimal staging.

Finally, a few tips on selling during the winter in general, especially in cold-weather markets:

Open the curtains and blinds to let the natural light shine in. And turn on all the lights in every room to brighten up the place, especially on cloudy or dismal days.

Provide convenient parking, either in your drive or on the street. People won’t want to climb a snowbank or take baby steps to avoid ice patches.

Put a festive welcome mat at the front door, where visitors can wipe their feet or perhaps even leave their wet or salty shoes. Have slippers or disposable booties available, and a bench or chair where they can sit to make the exchange.

Keep your own cold-weather gear out of sight.

Don’t allow bad odors to turn people off. Create pleasant scents by baking cookies and cakes, and roasting turkeys. You’ll be eating them anyway.