List Your Home: There will be less competition during the holidays, and buyers are likely to be more serious.
Here come the holidays. It’s the time of year for good cheer. It’s also the time of year when many sellers take their homes off the market or wait until January to list them. But the smart money says they’re wrong to do so. For one thing, there’s usually less competition to attract would-be buyers during the holiday season. Busy with holiday parties, buying gifts and perhaps taking a family vacation, sellers don’t have the time to make their homes ready for sale, so they don’t even bother. But if they wait, other folks in the same boat will also be listing their houses. And before long, all of you could be vying for the same buyer.
For another thing, people out looking at houses during the holiday season are not tire-kickers. They’re serious. They are just as busy as you are, but they’ve made buying a priority. Some need to find a place right away — maybe they’ve been transferred into the area, for example. And since they won’t have much inventory to choose from, you might be able to sell quicker — and at a higher price. 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.”
Source: Lew Sichelman, The Housing Scene
