Neighbor News
Twelve reasons to list your home during the holidays
If you are wondering if the Holidays are a good time to put your house on the market, below is a list of 12 reasons why you SHOULD list during the holiday season:
1. There is less competition for buyers. Many sellers mistakenly believe listing in the spring is better, so buyers in the winter months have fewer homes to choose from.
2. Winter prospects are more serious buyers. Winter buyers are typically purchasing because of a time sensitive move and have a “need” to make a buying decision as opposed to a “desire” to make a move.
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3. Your home looks its best during the holidays.Seasonal decorations, cozy fireplaces, and the smell of pumpkin pie make our homes look warm and inviting. Buyers make emotional decisions when choosing a house and these seasonal touches are very effective.
4. One of the highest percentages of Listings Sold to Listings Taken occurs during this time of the year. Statistics show housing sales can remain steady in the winter months, while the number of new homes entering the market decreases, creating a trend towards a seller’s market this during this time.
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5. You may receive more money for your home. With less competition, homes sold during the holidays tend to sell for more, in less time.
6. You can restrict showings during the holidays. Don’t worry about working showings around family activities. Sophisticated showing services, like the one used by the San Antonio Board of Realtors, make it easy for sellers and their realtor to keep buyer’s agents abreast of available showing times.
7. Buyers have more time to look at homes. School is out, many businesses close for extra days around Christmas and New Years, and out of town visitors abound. Buyers have additional time off to look at houses.
8. January is traditionally the biggest moving month. Primarily because of school calendars, many people will move during the single month of January, as opposed to over the four months of summer.
9. You can sell now and delay the closing, or even extend occupancy into next year when moving is more convenient. Buyers taking advantage of holiday time off to search for a home, may not need to move until spring, giving you plenty of time to find your new home and plan a convenient move.
10. When you sell your home during the winter, you are in a position to buy in the spring when there are more homes on the market. If you can wait until spring to search for your new home you will have many more homes to choose from and the advantage of negotiating without a contingency on the sell of your home first.
11. There may be fewer showings during the winter, but more qualified and motivated buyers. It’s all about quality over quantity when it comes to winter buyers. Expect fewer showings, but be prepared for quick offers from serious buyers.
12. Corporate transferees can’t wait until spring to buy a home. Corporations like to move their employees at the first of the year, therefore, giving transferees a deadline to negotiate a home purchase in their new city. When interviewing realtors to list your home, be sure to ask if they have connections to corporate relocation companies.
In summary, there are lots of good reasons to go ahead and list your home during the holidays. To make sure your home gets the best exposure possible, work with an experienced realtor that is familiar with your market area and has corporate relocation connections.