Putting your home on the market during the holidays may not be ideal. But that doesn’t mean that your home won’t sell quickly or for the best possible price! I recently helped my clients in Carmel Valley list their beautiful home and we were in escrow with multiple offers in less than two weeks! So it IS possible to successfully sell your home during the holidays. It just takes some thoughtful planning:
Tasteful Holiday Decor
I think most of us can agree that holiday décor is something special. But going overboard on the decorations can turn off a potential buyer. If you want to decorate for the holidays, keep the decorations minimal. Just a wreath on the front door, a simple menorah, or a tastefully decorated tree in the living room. You don’t want the decorations to feel too personal or too overwhelming– after all, you don’t want the buyer to feel like a guest in your home. You also don’t want your decorations to be so numerous that they completely cover parts of your home – buyers may wonder if you’re hiding something.
Professional Home Staging
Home staging helps sell a home at any time of the year, but it can be especially useful during the holidays. A professional home stager will help edit what you have or stage your space to appeal to potential buyers. If you want to decorate for the holidays, they can help give you advice on how you can add a little holiday cheer to your home without doing too much. For my sellers in Carmel Valley, home staging made all the difference.
Price to Sell
Even though December and January aren’t typically the most popular months to buy a home, there are still buyers looking. And the good news is, these buyers tend to be pretty serious! They’ve likely either been looking for a while or really need to find a home quickly. Don’t do yourself a disservice by pricing your home too high. It can be tempting to do so especially if there aren’t any other homes for sale in your neighborhood, but if you price your home right, you’re likely to quickly attract a serious (and qualified!) buyer.
‘Tis the Season
With the holidays on everyone’s mind, make sure your home feels warm and inviting. Turn the heat on low, make sure your fireplace is functioning, use cozy throws in your staging, and leave out some sweet holiday treats on the kitchen counter. If you’re not currently living in your home, talk to your agent about what they will do to keep your home from feeling too cold and cheerless when potential buyers come through.
Light Up Your Space
Shorter days and rainier weather can make any home feel dark and cold. Make sure to have your windows washed before listing to let in the maximum amount of natural light. Replace heavy drapes with sheer panels. Move or remove any pieces of furniture that block the light from getting into a room. And make sure your interior and exterior lights are in proper working order. Buyers may be viewing your home in the daylight or in the early evening when it’s already dark. Make sure your home feels warm and inviting no matter what time of day it is!
Don’t Skip the Professional Photos
The holidays are busy for everyone. Make sure to have professional photos, video, and/or a 3-D tour created of your home to share with potential buyers. Most people start their home search online and, especially during the holidays when time is limited, buyers may skip over your home and not even schedule a showing if the online listing doesn’t appeal to them.
If you decide to put your home on the market during the holidays, I hope you’ll keep these tips in mind. And remember, if you don’t get your home listed this month, January is a fantastic time to sell a home in San Diego! Give me a call at (858) 735-5767 to get started!
