Here’s some advice for people relocating during the holidays
Many people see relocation as an exciting adventure, but it can also be a very stressful time, especially during the holiday season. This is because relocation buyers and sellers are typically working within a relatively short timeframe in which to buy and sell properties.
When the holidays are added into the mix, it can seem like a lot to juggle at one time.
To ease some of that anxiety, Realtors offer their relocation clients some helpful advice, and try to set realistic expectations about the process.
According to Meg Greenwood Rife, a Realtor with Greenwood King Properties, buying a home during the holidays takes flexibility, creativity, and patience. This is the approach that she takes when representing relocation buyers.
“Buying a home is a process,” said Rife. “So, we have to be patient and flexible, and we sometimes have to do things that are a little outside of the box to make it all work.”
Oftentimes it can be difficult for relocation buyers to plan their home finding trips around the holidays. This is where creativity on the part of the Realtor comes into play.
Through the use of technology and apps such as FaceTime, Rife said that she has been able to virtually show homes to her relocation clients, and get them under contract prior to their initial visit to Houston.
“This way buyers can come to Houston during the contract’s option period, go back home to spend the holidays with their family, and then close 30 days later. So, because you have two parties involved, and it’s the holidays, you have to come up with unconventional ways of getting everybody to the closing table,” Rife said.
Of course, not all home buyers will find a home so quickly and might need to explore short-term rental options in the interim. Rife said that fortunately there are many apartments and other temporary solutions for buyers who want to wait for the right property to come on the market.
For buyers who will be in Houston looking for a home during the holidays, Rife said that she encourages them to enjoy some of the local sites and festivities while they are here.
“It’s about more than just finding a house; we want to make sure that relocation buyers and their families are happy. So, we want to be able to give them experiences and adventures that help them know that they are making the right choice in moving to Houston,” Rife said.
As for relocation sellers, their stress tends to be different from that of buyers, as they try to balance holiday plans with the need to have their home ready and available to show to buyers.
Renay Cohen is a Realtor with John Daugherty, Realtors. When representing relocation sellers, she said that it’s important for them to understand that people who are looking at homes over the holidays are generally serious buyers.
“I let my sellers know that it’s always good to try to accommodate showings over the holidays,” Cohen said. “So, if someone wants to see the home, it just might be the very buyer who will be purchasing it.”
She added, “The house doesn’t have to show perfectly. There are many times when I have shown a home that wasn’t in perfect showing condition, and most of the time people who are looking during the holidays are very understanding of this. I’ve sold many houses over the holidays by accommodating buyers who wanted to see the property during those times.”
If a perspective buyer wants to see a home at a time that is inconvenient for the seller, Cohen said that it’s best to have the seller pick another day or time that is convenient, rather than denying the showing altogether.
As far as holiday decorations are concerned, she said that she doesn’t discourage her sellers from decorating as long as it is tastefully done.
“I suggest limiting the decorations on the exterior of the home to basic lights or a wreath on the door, if that’s what the seller wants to do. On the interior, I don’t suggest limiting the decorations unless it makes the home appear to be cluttered. Most people who are looking over the holidays enjoy the decorations and don’t really have an issue with it,” Cohen said.
For buyers and sellers who expect to close on their homes before the end of the year, Cohen said that they need to be aware of holiday hours and office closings.
This is an important consideration when scheduling property inspections, as well as working with mortgage lenders and title companies.
As a Realtor, she said that it’s important to be proactive, and always make sure that the contract timeline is feasible.