The holiday season is a festive time of year, but while most of us get ready to celebrate, you might be wondering if it’s the right time to put your home on the market. While conventional wisdom suggests that the real estate market slows down during the holidays, listing your home during this season can actually be a strategic move.
Sterling Real Estate Group believes that the holidays offer unique advantages for home sellers, making it a great time to showcase your property. Here’s why you should consider listing your home for the holidays.
Less Competition, More Visibility
One of the key advantages of listing your home during the holidays is the reduced competition in the market. Many homeowners decide to wait until the new year to list their properties, creating a scarcity of available homes during the holiday season. With fewer homes on the market, your property has a better chance of standing out and capturing the attention of serious buyers.
Serious Buyers Are on the Hunt
Speaking of serious buyers, the holiday season tends to attract them! Individuals and families looking for a new home during this time often have specific reasons for their search, such as relocation, job changes, or other life events. These motivated buyers are likely to act quickly, leading to a potentially faster sale for your property.
We spoke with Sterling Real Estate Group agent, Dave Ryan, for better insight on serious buyers: “The biggest advantage of listing your home during the winter months is knowing that anyone who is out viewing homes this time of year are serious buyers, and not just looking as a hobby, which occurs more than people think. If you’re out in the cold weather, it’s because you’re serious and motivated to find the right home.”
Another Sterling agent, Rick Gargiulo, agrees that there are more serious buyers on the market around the holiday season. “Around the holidays, you’ve got the bonafide buyers that have made the decision that they’re going to make this transaction and transition in their life…I think there are less people that are out there shopping, but the ones that are out there are ready to roll.”
Homes Look Cozier and More Inviting
The holiday season brings a unique warmth and charm to homes that’s unlike any other time of the year. Agent Dave Ryan recommends utilizing lighting to make your home look especially inviting to potential buyers.
“One thing to keep in mind is that it gets dark very early this time of year which means a lot of the showings will be after dark. Having good lighting and leaving lights on inside are two options that can help a lot to counter this,” explains Ryan. Creating a cozy atmosphere that allows buyers to envision themselves celebrating future holidays in your space is one of the main goals, especially around this time of year.
Flexibility in Showings
The holiday season often means more time off for both buyers and sellers. This increased flexibility can lead to more showings and opportunities for potential buyers to view your home. Sterling Real Estate Group agents work with their clients to establish a schedule that accommodates both their plans and the needs of interested buyers.
When speaking with Ryan about home showings, he explains, “I always advise my clients to be as flexible as possible to allow potential buyers to view their home…I also offer to go to properties during the day when my clients may be at work, to take videos and pictures for them or video chat if possible to save them a trip in the cold weather.”
A Fresh Start in the New Year
For many people, the beginning of a new year marks a fresh start. By listing your home during the holidays, you position it as an exciting opportunity for buyers to start the new year in a new home. This psychological advantage can create a positive and optimistic mindset among potential buyers, increasing your chances of getting your home sold.
Work with Sterling Real Estate Group to Sell Your Home
Overall, listing your home for the holidays can be a strategic move that sets your property apart in a less crowded market. Year-round, the Sterling Real Estate Group team works to continuously stay up to date with the current market to ensure a smooth buying and selling process.
“From my standpoint, I think marketing is really important. Knowledge of the market is crucial. Pricing the home correctly and educating the seller on the current conditions is extremely important. I think Sterling really has our thumb on the pulse of the current real estate conditions and we know how to educate and advise a buyer or seller on how to react to them,” says Gargiulo.
Sterling Real Estate Group is here to help you navigate the process and make the most of the unique opportunities the holiday season presents. Contact us today to discuss how we can help you achieve a successful home sale during this festive time of the year.