
The holidays are filled with fun and excitement, and home buyers are eager to add to that excitement by finding their favorite new home. With the help from one of our real estate agents and these tips, your home selling experience can be a great one.
- Start Your Marketing Efforts Before Thanksgiving
If you need a buyer before the end of the year, there's a more limited time frame involved. Extend that timeframe by starting before Thanksgiving. That means more time to coordinate showings, and you can get the attention of buyers before they decide to take a break for the holidays.
- Price It Right
With fewer buyers who are usually more serious, it's even more important to price it right the first time.
- You Still Need Curb Appeal
With sparser foliage, buyers are more likely to notice the need for repairs. Make sure the paint is touched up, bricks are power washed, gutters are clean, and the yard is cleaned up before your home goes up for sale. Always pay attention to safety issues. And if your house looks beautiful when the landscaping is all green and in bloom, leave a strategically placed photo for buyers to see.
- Make Your Home Cozy and Inviting
A comfortable temperature, a stylized dining room table, and a living room with comfortable looking furniture are all examples of ways your home can look welcoming to a buyer. If it looks inviting, they'll stay a little longer, and it can help them form the emotional connection and positive feelings they'll need to move from looking to buying.
- Use Holiday Décor, but Don't Overdo It
It can make your home look festive and inviting and can help with curb appeal too. But keep it to a minimum. Visitors still need to move around the house so décor shouldn't be in the way or so overdone that it's a turnoff. Avoid anything specifically religious since not everyone celebrates the same holidays.
- Use a Video Tour to Attract Buyers
With busy schedules and inclement weather, shopping plans can change. A video can help connect you with the right buyer under any circumstances. Your home will be the first one they come to when they do go back out.
- Be as Flexible as Possible With Showings
With everyone's extra busy schedules, it's important to be available and flexible when it comes to showings. Good communication with your agent can really help here.
- Highlight Winter-Friendly Amenities
A working fireplace, new roof, updated heating, or attached garage are all features that are greatly appreciated during the winter. If your home has any of these options, make sure to mention them. Also highlight the entertainment areas where future owners can imagine their own holiday gatherings.
- Pay Special Attention to Lighting
With less available natural light and shorter daylight hours, there's a higher chance buyers may be touring your home under less than optimal conditions. Use the brightest light bulbs that are safe for your fixtures and add a lamp or other lighting where necessary.
- Keep the Weather-Related Mess to a Minimum
Buyers expect a clean home, so don't let the weather make it difficult. Provide a place to hang coats, a couple of umbrellas for outdoors and shoe covers or a doormat to help keep the carpet clean.
Selling your home during the holidays isn't impossible and having the right real estate agent can really make the process easier. Contact Wagner Realty today and let us help get your home sold!
