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Should I Take My Home Off The Market
During the Holidays?
By Blanche
Evans
When
you look at your calendar you may find the months already overloaded with
seasonal obligations -- shopping, entertaining, children's pageants,
charity work, decorating the house, and so much more. If you are also
trying to sell your home, you are under extra pressure to keep your home
in "showtime" condition. And that could be the last thing you need before
the holiday spirit is broken. It is
understandable why you would be tempted to take your home off the market
during the holidays. And the list of justifications is long. If you are
too busy, buyers may be also, and you may find your efforts unrewarded by
enough showings. And what if you do get an offer? You may be faced with
the possibility of packing and moving during the busiest time of the year.
Besides, you can give your house a rest, and it will have better momentum
after the holidays. Better to just pack it in and start fresh in January,
right? But wait! Most top Realtors
agree that taking your home off the market during the Christmas season is
a mistake. The house surely isn't going to sell off the market! What is
the advantage of that? So you're busy. Let your Realtor do the work. You
can leave in the morning, go to work, go shopping, and let your Realtor
take care of things. The holidays are a
wonderful selling period. Why? Because most people take off work sometime
during the season. The husband and wife are both off and want to see
houses. Most agents like the holidays because the buyers have more time,
and they can look at homes together. Before you take your home off the
market, consider the following points:
Although buyer activity may appear to slow down,
the buyers who are actively looking during the holidays are that much more
serious. Agents believe the home market is no more affected at Christmas
than during other "busy" periods. If that were so, the market would shut
down throughout the year as families concentrate on spring weddings, June
graduations, summer vacations, and autumn back-to-school activities.
Many buyers deliberately choose to shop for a home after the
busy spring and summer rush. They know that it will be easier to look, and
that negotiations will be less stressful. They may not have children, or
they may have grown children, so moving to accommodate the school year
isn't a consideration. Finding the right home at the right price, however,
is.
Relocating families often don't have a choice when they can leave for
their new destination. Although 68% of transferring families have
children, many families have to transfer during the middle of the school
year. These families are that much more motivated to get their families
settled in before either the January semester begins, or to arrange for
the move during spring break in March. If you sign a contract by New
Year's Eve, the timing couldn't be more perfect.
At Christmas time, our culture focuses on family and the home.
Preparing for the indoor activities of winter is one of the most enjoyable
periods of family life. Allowing buyers to view your home during this most
hospitable of seasons lets them better picture their own family life in
the attractive environment you have created.
When is your home ever more beautiful and inviting? You have cleaned
and decorated, and your home looks like a picture postcard. If the results
are good enough for family and friends, they will surely be good enough to
impress your buyers. Get the family team on board to do a five-minute
blitz pick-up every morning to keep holiday messes to a minimum.
With reduced inventories and motivated buyers, you will have all the
members of the MLS on your team. You may find you have more showings than
you would if you marketed your home during a busier time of the year.
If you do get a contract, you can arrange the
terms to suit your needs. If moving during the holidays isn't an option,
you can put in the closing date of your choice. Most people can close 30
to 60 days after a contract is written, so there is plenty of time.
Possession and closings are very negotiable.
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