But what if you are in a position that can’t wait until the spring to get your house on the market? Should you consider putting your house up for sale around the holidays?
The holiday season does have its benefits when it comes to selling your home. Now this is contingent on if you position your home in just the right way. While you might not end up in the middle of a bidding war, but you typically will deal with serious buyers who are ready to close a deal.
Here are some reasons why the holidays are a good time to sell a house:
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Housing Inventory During Winter:
While the Spring is the hot time to sell your home and the market is booming, there are plenty of homes listed around the holidays that may command more money, even if the inventory is limited. If you play your cards right, then you might be able to sell your home quicker in the winter than the ones listed in the spring.
Reason #1: the lack of competition during the holidays. Many sellers don’t want to list their houses just before or during the holidays. Most home owners want to enjoy the holidays as family time and not deal with having to show their home or negotiate terms.
Either way, you don’t want to discount the holidays. With less inventory this means that serious buyers won’t have an endless list of homes to choose from, this allows them more time to focus on your home. Also, this means you may be able to have a higher asking price for your property.
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Festive Neighborhoods:
The holiday season tends to be a time when people decorate their homes with festive lights and festive decorations. That is also true of local communities/ small towns who put up things like lit-up snowflakes and wreaths on lampposts up and down the main streets.
People purchasing a home during this time are able to view the neighborhood in a different light, one that is more festive and cheerful, and may be more willing to consider an area that they may were unsure of before.
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Winter Buyers = Serious Buyers:
Most open houses take place during the spring and early summer. Now it can be common to see people view a property without a clear plan to buy- for many people, going to open houses is a favorite pastime.
However, if your house is up for sale in the winter and someone is looking at it, then there is a greater chance that they are are someone who is serious and ready to buy. Anyone that is shopping for a new home between the holidays Thanksgiving and New Year’s is likely going to be a serious buyer. This is likely due to them not wanting to waist their precious time around the holidays.
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Year-End Job Transfers
Timing is another good reason to sell at the end of the year. This time of year is typically when people will be notified about moving due to a job transfer, or perhaps an offer comes through from another company that’s just too good to pass up.
These families and people are going to need a home a lot sooner and, as a result, they’ll have to be house hunting during the holidays. These buyers don’t have the option to wait until spring, which is one reason why listing during the holidays can get the home sold—and sold quickly.
