Many experts will have you believe that if you want to sell your home, you’d better list it in the spring to capitalize on the spring and summer home buying season. They aren’t wrong – April is the month of peak home prices, when you can expect to receive the highest price for your property when it hits the market. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t sell your home effectively and receive a top dollar offer during the rest of the year. In fact, end of year home sales tend to move at a faster pace than at other times throughout the year. Winter home buyers are usually serious, motivated, and working within solid deadlines of when they need to be moved and settled in their new location.
The holidays can also be a fantastic time for showing off your home, as many of us naturally stay more on top of cleaning and decluttering as we are preparing for a new wave of toys and trinkets. You can also rely on your neighborhood to really show off during this time of year. Especially if your neighbors are known for getting really into the holiday spirit, you may be able to better tempt your potential buyers when they see how beautiful the rest of your neighborhood is while all decked out in holiday decor.
Choose Your Agent Wisely
Sure, your wife’s cousin or your high school buddy might be great agents who are in touch with the local market, but what are their plans for the holidays and winter vacations? You want to be certain that whomever you choose to represent you in the home selling process will be in town and available to you whenever you need them. Will your agent be taking time off for holiday activities? Will someone be able to back them up as needed? It is important that you ask these questions up front so that you have the appropriate expectations set before entering into a formal working relationship.
We have the perfect agent for you, and we would be happy to discuss how we can help you make the most of selling your home during the holiday season. For more information about how we can sell and market your home during this, or any season, click here!
Market and Price Your Home Appropriately
Your agent will guide you throughout this process, but it is important for you to listen to their suggestions regarding pricing your home correctly, and finding the right audience for marketing to potential buyers. Remember, winter home shoppers are likely very serious and deadline oriented. They likely will be starting new jobs or military assignments after the beginning of the new year, and they need to find a home, close and settle in as quickly as possible, often before school starts back after the winter break. Marketing of your home should be targeted at these specific groups, rather than a wide pool of general buyers and those just passively looking with intentions to purchase a home several months down the road.
Setting the right purchase price from the beginning will also help your home sale process go much more smoothly. Several years ago when the market was more friendly to buyers than sellers, a high selling price with small but frequent deductions was the norm. Now experts recommend thinking through the selling price carefully and selecting something that is fair and competitive, and that will likely have your home snapped up within days of listing.
Add a Virtual Tour to Your Listing
Colder and sometimes icy weather during the holiday season make buyers less interested in physically viewing numerous homes during their hunt. They are also likely busy with their own holiday planning and purchasing, leaving less time to drive around town looking at houses. When you add the concerns surrounding the Coronavirus pandemic, many buyers prefer to view homes virtually until they are almost certain they have settled on “the one.” Your listing will now have to work overtime in convincing buyers your home is perfect for them.
We suggest adding a video to your listing, to give prospective buyers a virtual tour of your home. Again, this is something your agent will be able to assist you with. You will want to make sure that the video is thorough and includes every room, not just the main living areas. If you have any knock-out closets, powder rooms, or basement areas, these should be showcased as well. Anything that might impress your prospective buyers in person should be available for them to see virtually.
Similarly, the photos used in your listing need to be professionally done and of the highest quality. The proper consideration should be taken for time of day and natural lighting if possible, so schedule your photographer for a time when the predicted weather is sunny, even if it’s a bit cold. And look through your old photos for any that show your home in the spring and summer. Include these at the end of your photo reel so that prospective buyers can picture what your home looks like in better weather.
Give Extra Attention to Curb Appeal
While you won’t likely need to shovel snow or clear the ice from your walkways in metro Atlanta, we do have the occasional flurry in December. If that happens, make sure all entrances to your home are safely clear of precipitation. Leaves will be much more of a concern, especially if you have large hardwood trees in your yard, or in the surrounding neighborhood. Make sure your yard is blown clear of leaves on a daily basis, and be prepared to mulch or bag and remove them as needed.
Another thing to consider in terms of curb appeal will be the parts of your home that are more visible now that the leaves have fallen from the trees and shrubs, and your lush lawn is no longer the attention-grabbing show stopper it is at other times during the year. Before you list your home, clean the windows, touch up your paint, clean the gutters and if needed, make any minor repairs to the trim and shutters. Invest in illuminations for front walkways and if possible, uplighting for your home’s exterior. Many buyers will be seeing your home in the afternoon and evening hours during the week, and with dark falling early, lighting can make a major difference in your home’s nighttime appearance.
Stage Your Home as a Warm and Cozy Refuge
When buyers do come to see your home during the winter season, make sure it is a welcoming environment, an escape from the weather outside. Keep your heat turned up even when you aren’t home, in case of unexpected showings. If you are heading out just before buyers arrive, leave the fire burning in the fireplace, and leave some faint classical music playing in the background. A pleasant, but subtle seasonal scent filling your home is a nice touch as long as it is not overpowering. Burn a pine or cinnamon scented candle for a little while each day, but avoid spraying too much artificially scented air fresheners, as these can aggravate the allergies of sensitive buyers. If you really want to up your aroma game, bake frequently. Fresh baked cookies or apple cider simmering on the stove are perfect ways to spread a cozy scent around your home.
Limit the Holiday Decorations
You can still decorate for the holidays, but keep your displays small and tasteful. If you really want to sell your home, this may not be the year for the giant inflatable snow globe with ice-skating penguins inside. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when decorating:
- Limit the size of your tree. You don’t want the tree to be so much of a scene stealer that it makes the surrounding room seem small, or leaves a buyer unable to picture the room with any other use.
- Use red more than green. Color experts agree that the color red is emotionally appealing, and will draw buyers in.
Reach for winter-themed decor rather than holiday-specific items. You want to make buyers of all cultures and religions feel welcome and comfortable in your home.- Make sure your seasonal decorations do not block the view of important selling features in your home, such as stained glass windows, intricate stair railings, and fireplace mantels.
- De-personalize your collection of decorations. Handmade items that have been on your tree for years may need to remain in storage this year. Handprints, monograms and handmade gifts from your children’s younger years are too personal to be part of your perfectly staged seasonal decor.
- Don’t display the Christmas cards you’ve received. The photo cards that are so popular lately are too personal to have on display when buyers arrive, and regular cards can make it appear that you’ve simply allowed your mail to back up.
- Don’t place presents under the tree just yet. While 99.9% of prospective buyers who ask to view your home are legitimately house-hunting, don’t take chances with your family’s Christmas. On the very rare chance that a thief has made their way into your open house, don’t leave tempting boxes out in plain view.