Should you sell your home this holiday season? The holidays have arrived and with them, the time of year when home sellers wonder whether they should keep their properties on the market or take them off instead. If owners haven’t listed their home yet, they may be asking themselves: should I wait until spring or brave the winter real estate market? 

Trying to sell your home during the holidays can be daunting. The season is extremely busy for families, and taking on the additional stress of selling a house could be a turnoff for some people. Many people consider the holiday season the worst time to sell your home because homeowners are busy hosting family members, putting up their favorite decorations and planning vacations. 

However, listing a home during the holidays can be extremely advantageous to homeowners, and it doesn’t have to ruin any holiday cheer.

Here are a few reasons why homeowners should consider listing their homes this winter: 

Less Inventory. For many homeowners, selling their home during the holidays seems like too much of a hassle. They will either take their home off the market or wait until the warmer months to list. This creates an inventory shortage, which is good news for a seller. A shortage means limited choices for buyers, so the homeowner could have a higher asking price.

Control Your Showings. Homeowners do not need to let their homes be constantly available for showing. Let your real estate agent know if there are certain days and times that won’t work for your schedule. You can have blackout dates where there are absolutely no showings, or create a daily schedule outlining when potential buyers can come through the home. Your agent is there to make the process go smoothly.

Staging. Staging your home can be as easy as decorating for the holidays. Just be careful not to overdo it, as décor that is too over the top can distract buyers. Sellers can avoid offending potential buyers by using general fall and winter decorations. It is also a good idea to have pictures available showing your home without holiday décor.

Motivated Buyers. People hunting for homes during the holidays often have a reason for doing so, meaning they are more motivated buyers. Other buyers will put off a home search during the holidays and pick things up again in the spring. If someone is touring homes instead of celebrating the season with friends and family, they likely need to buy a home quickly and could be willing to pay more.

Of course, the most important thing that you can do to give yourself an advantage is to hire a Realtor®, a member of the National Association of Realtors®. Realtors® have real insights, unparalleled knowledge of your local market and can help you sell your home this winter, so that you and your family can get back to celebrating the holidays.

Allen Green, Realtor

John Green & Company Realtors®