Are Holiday House Sales a Good Idea?

Holiday Home Sales

One of the questions that real estate agents often get from homeowners is, “Should I sell my home during the holidays”?

They will decide whether waiting until after the New Year or during springtime is better. There are certainly good and bad months to sell a house.

While everyone’s circumstances differ, I can tell you that the holidays are NOT the best time to sell a house. November, December, and January are the slowest months of the year for foot traffic.

An additional question real estate agents often get is, “Should I take my home off the market for the holidays”?

This question comes from the folks who already have their home on the market.

Selling a home during the holidays was something very few people did.

The argument was that there were fewer buyers during the busy holiday season, so sellers might as well wait until more people could look at the house.

However, listing your home during the holiday season can be effective in times of minimal inventory.

Although there can be some drawbacks, you may face less competition and have an easier time making a sale.

Getting your house under contract might be as challenging as you imagine.

Understanding these winter home selling tips will become necessary if you leap. You will want to look at some of the best tips for selling in the winter season.

With Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner, these tips will become helpful if you decide to move ahead.

The Busiest Time Of The Year

There is no denying that the holiday season can be a busy one in our personal lives. The increased social demands, the dinners, and the parties, not to mention the gift-giving and traveling, can make the holiday season hectic for many households.

The busiest time of year is not an excellent time to sell a home. Who can look at houses and go through the mortgage lending process during the holidays?

Well, the answer may surprise you. Many potential buyers are primed to buy a home during the holidays. They do a significant portion of their house hunting online to locate potential properties more quickly.

The fact that they are still looking despite the increased demands of the season also indicates that they are probably more motivated to buy.

The Best Kind Of Buyer

If you are willing to go through the extra work to put your house up during the holidays, you may be rewarded with the kind of customers every seller wants to attract.

The old way of doing things, of waiting to list a home until January, is quite prevalent still.

Many sellers will even wait until spring to list their homes for sale. The thinking is that this is the absolute best time.

When these motivated buyers look for homes during the holidays, there will be less housing stock. Fewer homes for sale make buyers more likely to check out your home.

Holiday buyers will also be caught up in the season, where emotions are running high and where they are thinking of the past and, more importantly, the future.

More Emotional Home Sales at The Holidays

Buyers can often be more enthusiastic about purchasing things when emotional, as the retail sales records during the holidays demonstrate.

Where they may have been a little more hesitant to make a purchase before, during the holidays, they may be the opposite – more likely to make a purchase just because it makes them feel good.

The fact that buyers often think of family during the holidays can also motivate them to buy homes that they can see raising a family or having a family over for the holiday season.

These motivations can lead to purchasing a bigger house than they may otherwise have.

The marketing efforts of your Realtor can appeal to these sensibilities, selling your home as a great place to raise kids. Some of this is discussed in the article above, in which I explain some of the best sales tactics for selling a home during the holidays.

Keep in mind that anyone looking at purchasing a home during the holidays is more than likely severe. You are less apt to find a bunch of “tire kickers” looking at houses during this time of year.

Last year, a client was interviewing multiple top Grafton Mass Real Estate agents, and they were all telling him to wait until the spring.

The problem, however, was that he was in dire financial straights. All the realtors interviewed said not to put the home on the market between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

He ended up listening to me. The house ended up going under agreement a week later with a relocation buyer looking to make an immediate purchase. A win-win! Sometimes, your advice on selling your home during the holidays depends on the individual’s circumstances!

Faster Sales

One additional benefit of selling during the holidays is that buyers can get their loans approved much quicker than during the Spring or Summer markets when everyone starts trading again. Lenders are less busy during the holiday because there are just not as many home sales.

They can usually process the loan faster, which means you can get the money you need for your home and possibly for purchasing your next home much quicker.

This is the perfect time to shop for the lowest mortgage interest rate possible. There will be mortgage officers who will love to put a loan together to get one last deal under their belt for the year!

Tax Benefits

Smart home buyers are looking for any break they can get, which can make buying at the end of the year particularly beneficial. The buyers hunting during the holidays are probably aware that they can write off some of the home purchase expenses on their taxes.

There are usually some tax benefits of owning a home they can take advantage of, including deductions for mortgage interest, private mortgage insurance premiums (PMI), and tax credits for real estate taxes.

The possible tax benefits may also increase the buyer’s motivation to buy a house before the New Year.

Homes Look Their Best During The Holidays

There is nothing like winter to make a house look like a home. A fire in the hearth, cookies baking, holiday decorations – all of these can be played up to appeal to the buyer’s senses.

As long as your Realtor or the home stager does not overdo it, these holiday trappings can draw in buyers and make them feel like they could live in your home and have their own warm and cozy holiday season.

Remember to ensure your home has a comfortable atmosphere, including turning up the thermostats before the showing.

While following sound energy savings tips for your home is always good, keeping the thermostat down could lead to a less-than-stellar showing environment.

Be Prepared For Your Next Move

When selling during the holidays, you need to have the mindset that someone may come along and want a quick close. This could put a real cramp in your style, especially if they ask for an inconvenient closing time, like right smack dab in the middle of Thanksgiving and Christmas.

It would help to have your ducks lined up regarding where you will live. Do you have a home already located for purchase?

Buying and selling a home at once can be tricky. This is something that should be well thought out in advance. Your stress levels will go through the roof when you have not thought about all the “what ifs”!

You have probably asked yourself the same question – “if someone comes along and I have not found another home to buy, where will I go”?

This is a common dilemma many people face when trying to buy and sell simultaneously. As long as you have things planned, everything usually falls into place.

Selling For More Or Less?

There is no way to tell if your home will sell for more or less than it would outside of the holiday season. There is the argument that because fewer houses exist, you could get closer to your asking price due to a less saturated market.

But you will also be dealing with less demand, as fewer people will be looking for homes. Most bidding wars on houses will occur in the spring when there are far more buyers.

Research indicates home sale prices are connected to seasons, so your results may vary. However, there is no reason why you shouldn’t be able to sell your home for a reasonable price in the current market.

Especially if you hire a Realtor who is familiar with selling homes during the holidays. Every market is different, so you should consult a local professional who will give you the best advice on whether to sell during the holidays or wait until spring is best.

What Are The Best Tips For Selling a House at The Holidays?

Selling your home during the holidays can be effective with the right strategies. Here are the best tips to make the most of this season:

1. Decorate Tastefully: Use simple, festive decorations to enhance warmth and appeal without cluttering your space.
2. Price It Right: Competitive house pricing is crucial to attract serious holiday buyers.
3. High-Quality Photos: Professional photos that showcase your home’s best features are essential, especially in listings online.
4. Provide a captivating description: Ensure you write a compelling listing of your home’s best attributes.
5. Maintain Curb Appeal: Keep your exterior clean and well-lit despite the winter weather.
6. Flexible Showing Times: Accommodate potential buyers’ schedules to maximize viewing opportunities.
7. Highlight Seasonal Features: Emphasize cozy fireplaces, energy-efficient windows, and any winter-proofing aspects of your home.
8. Offer A Virtual Tour: Provide an online tour for buyers who can’t visit in person due to holiday commitments.
9. Keep It Cozy: Ensure your home is warm and inviting during showings, with pleasant scents and a comfortable temperature.
10. Capitalize on Lighting: With shorter days, make sure your home is well-lit inside and out to show it in its best light.
11. Be Prepared to Move Quickly: Have all necessary paperwork and contingencies in order, as holiday buyers often want to close quickly.

Implementing these tips can help you attract serious buyers.

The Pros and Cons of Selling a Home During The Holidays

Conclusion

Here in Massachusetts, we have a very seasonal real estate market. Spring is almost always the best time of year to sell a home. Sometimes circumstances dictate that selling during the holidays is necessary. Please do what you can to make the best of it.

If you don’t have a pressing need to sell, taking your home off the market for the holidays may make some sense. This is especially true if your house has been on the market for a while. In areas of the country where the weather is less than desirable, a complete reset in the spring might make the most sense.

Other Helpful Winter Home Selling/Buying Articles

• How to winterize a vacant home via RIS Media House Call Blog.
• Will insurance cover winter damage to my home via Maximum Real Estate Exposure?
• Purchasing a home in late fall via Inlanta Morgage.

Use the additional helpful articles to get answers about selling your home during the holiday season.

About the Author: Bill Gassett, a nationally recognized leader in his field, provided information on whether I should sell my house during the holidays. He is an expert in mortgages, financing, moving, home improvement, and general real estate.

Learn more about Bill Gassett and the publications he has been featured in. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-625-0191. Bill has helped people move in and out of Metrowest towns for the last 38+ years.

Are you thinking of selling your home? I am passionate about real estate and love sharing my marketing expertise!

I service Real Estate Sales in the following Metrowest MA towns: Ashland, Bellingham, Douglas, Framingham, Franklin, Grafton, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hopedale, Medway, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Natick, Northborough, Northbridge, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Sutton, Wayland, Westborough, Whitinsville, Worcester, Upton, and Uxbridge MA.