It is getting to be that time of year again. The holidays are upon us but the house hasn't sold.
What should a seller do?
At first inclination most sellers opt to withdraw their home from the market believing that the preoccupation with the holiday season puts few buyers in the market. While there is truth to this belief, sellers can be ignoring another more important truth: Those buyers looking at houses during the holidays are very serious buyers.
There are not many tire-kickers running around with a Realtor when there are presents to buy and gifts to wrap. November, December and January showings are a seller's opportunity to stand out from the pack as most homes that buyers visit at this time of the year are vacant. A buyer's choices are down to model homes, empty relocation properties and foreclosures. A welcome home filled with the colorful sights, delightful sounds and wonderful aromas of the season give a unique opportunity for those wanting to sell.
Tips for Showing & Selling During the Holidays:
- Decorate! Tastefully of course. This might not be the year that you do the Griswold display of lights as in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, but a decorated tree, candles and wreaths can add a special touch.
- Bake and leave out a Christmas Cookie or two. Why should Santa have all of the extra calories?
- Light a cozy fire! Make sure the fireplace is burning bright, warm and welcoming!
- Play holiday music. Leave out the barking version of Jingle Bells and go for instrumentals or uniquely Minnesota regional artists like The Blenders.
- Shovel and salt the driveway and sidewalks if necessary. No one wants to spend the holidays in the emergency room with a twisted ankle.
- Leave the front light on! Don't forget it is dark out during those early evening showings. Make certain buyers and their agents are able to see their way to your front door and lockbox.
If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.
Copyright 2007 Teri Eckholm http://www.terieckholm.com/
If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional REALTOR®, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet or FREE Homebuyers Success Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota..JPG)
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Copyright 2012 Teri Eckholm http://www.terieckholm.com/
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Teri, I too believe the holiday period can be a very good time to sell a property. Inventory decreases and really only serious buyers are looking at properties during this period. I have some sellers with children that do want a break from the stress of trying to sell over the holidays then I have other properties, especially vacant ones, where are going to do serious price reductions so they stand out from the pack.
The holiday period is normally one of my busier times. So many folks are winding down where as I'm winding up for a big finish to the year and a strong first quarter of 2008.
Great information Teri! I always tell my sellers to leave it on the market because the buyers looking are serious buyers!
Thank goodness we don't need snow shovels in Florida! :)
Teri,
I agree with your post and the comments made...many people like to move in 'for Christmas', after school resumes in January, after winter, after school lets out, before summer vacation, before school starts in the late summer. These are occasions I have found to close on homes! Thanks, Fran
I love the tips! Most of my sellers are choosing to stay on the market this year, but I do have one that is planning to take theirs off. These will be very usefule!
As someone who purchased my own home on New Years Eve, I can attest that people do, in fact, purchase homes during the holidays. My last few Decembers have been quite busy and I agree that the buyers who are out there are more serious. In my opinion, decorations do make a house show so much more like a home. Soft lighting around a Christmas tree and some soft music, maybe a few holiday scented candles burning - how much better does showing a house get?!
Lisa Friedman http://www.LisaFriedman.com http://www.ViaForHealth.com
It depends. Everything depends on the particular client. Most of mine stay on the market over the holidays, for all the obvious reasons given above. If someone's adamant about taking it off, that's fine, too. Often our Rush starts December 26th rather than waiting til January 1st.
No snow here in Florida - we have boat parades, instead, and string lights on the palm trees in our yards.
Hi Teri,
Congratulations on your feature. One of the reason I also think fewer sales are made between Thanksgiving and Christmas is that many agents (themselves) work less. Personally I've had some quiet Decembers and busy ones too.
One other thing I love to do with my listings at Christmas. My signs have a white post, so I take wide plastic type ribbon and decorate the sign post like a candy cane and then put a big bow on the sign. My sellers always love it and it make their's a stand-out.
Hi Teri, A marvelous post and one that deserves being featured. A good many years I have actually sold over the holidays. Twice on Christmas Day! Hopefully this year it will happen as well. I love your ideas on how to make it all a bit more fun though!
PS, Thanks for being such a wonderful friend! You are so kind and you are so greatly appreciated.
Teri, love that shiny gold star!
A great post, and some good comments on it too. The homes wont' sell if they are not on the market, so why take them off?
Great Post!! I've got a few of these... I can't help but laugh about the lighting a fire and salting the driveways! Can you please share some of your COLD WEATHER with us down here? We're ready to turn the A/C back on during the day because it's been so warm again!
THANKS for the COOL post! :-)
Bryant--I let the sellers decide as it should be a special time but not overly stressful. If they want my opinion, I tell them to keep it on if it works for them. I did have a family with many kids, grandkids and presents last year that didn't want to be on the market over the holidays. The sign stayed in the yard but they were removed from the MLS. We had a persistant buyer who called just before Christmas and saw the home the day it was back on the market. And wrote a PA.
Pam--Thanks!! We haven't needed the shovels yet...but it's coming!
Fran--People have started to move all year round in the north too. Serious buyers are the best kind to work with.
Laurie--I will have to check out your holiday post too...I am certain it is every bit as good as mind. :) Thanks for the compliment though.
Lisa--Good point...Be conservative and tasteful with the decorations...NO Grizwold Holiday Decor!
Katie--But if the house sells, DOM wont matter! My point is that homes often sell during this time period. But it has to work for the client as well. If they are game to stay on the market, I encourage it!
Carole--If the decor is not overdone, the holiday decorations can make a house feel like a home.
Missy--Over the past few years I have had a few homes that will have very few showings from Sept-Nov then be hit with several showings one or two weeks before Christmas. And get offers! Changed my mind about the seasons.
Christi--You are welcome! It doesn't work for everyone to stay on the market over the holidays but if they can, embrace the opportunity.
Julie--Congrats...That shows there are serious buyers out there, doesn't it?
Kay--Business always seems to happen when you are out of town...Isn't that one of the laws of real estate? Plan a vacation and the clients come out of the woodwork? Thanks for submitting more proof that the Holidays are a great time to be listed!
Sally--Absolutely! It is a great time to buy or sell a home!
Lisa--Exactly! The holidays give homeowners a reason to add a little pizzazz to the decor. Buyers like that...And the fact that they are serious doesn't hurt either!
Sharon--I agree that the client should make the decision as families can be stressed enought during the holidays without a last minute showing. But if they are willing, I say stay on. Also, we hope you don't get snow and frost in FL...Makes the cost of OJ and Lemons go crazy up here! :)
Marchel--The best reason to consider staying on the market...Serious Buyers just like you!
Donna--Even when gas prices were reasonable, I hate driving around tirekickers. Let them shop for something else online or at the mall. :)
Tara--Definitely a win-win situation for serious sellers and buyers.
Mana--Thanks!! My reasoning exactly...If it works for the seller to stay on the market, they should!
Jeff--See...Serious buyers and sellers in the market during the holidays! Good for you!
B&C--So far no mud and snow up here yet but it is coming. In MN people are accustomed to removing shoes in someone else's home from the time we learn to walk... :)
Bobby--That is an excellent point that many home sellers in NJ might not think of if they do not work on Wall Street. And other communities where end of the year bonuses are prevalent should take note...Thanks for the comment!
Lynda--I love the idea! Works well for me as KW colors are red and white. I will be making a candy cane or two on my listings before the snow flies!
Donna--What a great slogan: People move in all kinds of seasons for all kinds of reasons!
William--Wow--I have never sold homes on Christmas Day but have had showings and sales the weekends before and after. And you are very welcome as I value your friendship too.
Joanne--Thanks and what an excellent point! I do understand when a seller says it won't work for them but if they are open to showings over the holiday and really motivated, it can be a great time to sell!
Susie--No we cannot share the cold weather with you or the oranges will freeze! If you want to see a winter wonderland you must come to MN...Of course no snow yet so check the forecast before planning a trip! :)
Ruthmarie--We have had some pretty mild Novembers and Decembers as well. There is never a perfect time to move but only one time of year that you can put out some decorations where everyone will feel warm and welcomed without the home feeling staged.
Kevin--My point exactly!
Neal--OK, take Christmas and New Years off...Or any other bank holiday! :) But if the seller is motivated and willing, they need to know that the buyers out there are serious buyers!
Hi Teri, I love your posts! And your tips are right on the money! From my home staging experience, I also agree with you that tasteful holiday decorating can be very emotionally connecting and welcoming to house buyers.
Just one tip/reminder that experience has shown. As you know, Do Not take MLS pictures of obviously decorated homes.(Take pictures without showing the tree, santa claus standing, etc) If they are still on the market in Feb or March, the pictures' first impression will be "something is wrong with this house, it was listed last year. (Our minds flip over "last year", it could have been 4 weeks ago but they won't count the weeks, it will just be last year!!)
Thanks for your great post and keep selling!
Teri,
That is a sound reason to keep the home on the market. It'll definitely stand out from the rest because it's lived-in and has that holiday spirit as a marketing tool. X-mas cookies for the prospects should ice the deal.
Michigan is cold, wet, sometimes snowy over the holidays and everyone is busy. However, any person that wants to look at home under those conditions, is not just a "looky looky" person (like you get all summer long)
They are serious buyers who usually need to buy SOON or they would wait until after the first of the year. And a home is so cozy during the holidays. Nothing says Home. Family. Love. like a decorated holiday home with the lights and scents. Also a lot of agents like to take this time of year off work too....NOT ME. I want to get a call from that serious holiday time buyer!
Renee Parker ~ Grand Haven Michigan
woow Teri,
you always get featured, you do awesome blogs :) keep the good blog / work my friend.
Best wishes
Ray saenz
Mike--And we like serious buyers much better than the looky-lous right?!!
Robert--Thanks! You are right, the buyers are out there during the holidays!
Leslie--A few years back I did take photos of the home with the wreath and the tree. It was listed in Nov and sold in Dec. Our plan was to change the photos immediately Jan 2nd if the home did not sell. Good reminder!! In MN we are rephotoing whenever the seasons change for that very reason...Not too much bright green grass in December in MN!
Esko--You'd be surprised at how far a few cookies will get you...Sometimes the way to a buyers heart is through his stomach. :)
Renee--We have the same weather in MN...Only the serious buyers want to be out in the elements. But they are out there!
Ray--I know you haven't been around much lately but with all of the new bloggers being added everyday, I don't get featured very often anymore. You really have to work hard to get noticed with nearly 60K members. Really appreciate the compliment though!
Chris&Maria--Smart broker...As someone else said in the comments above: there are buyers with all reasons and in all seasons.
Karen--So true! If you really want to sell your home, there is no reason to remove it over the holidays unless you cannot take the stress. Some buyers cannot wait until after the holidays.
Teri-This is an excellent post and one that I needed to read today. I'm glad you were inspired to comment on my blog so that I could find you. Tomorrow is a big day for us. We are listing our house and have decided for whatever reason that it is the perfect time. Especially due to there being only 2 homes on the market under $200k in my city. We rented a storage unit to declutter and in the process we have also been dejunking. How refreshing that is. But your ideas here bring to light something that I was going to bypass and that was putting up our tree. I'm just over my first year in real estate and it seems so much easier to help clients sell their home than to help myself. Thank heavens for you and your post. I will now take your advice and get to decorating this week.
Have a wonderful holiday season!
Pamela--I missed yours but will check it out now...It has worked for my clients in the past to stick with it during Nov-Jan!
Teri,
I agree with you, that's why you need to teach me and share with me good tips :) , specially when it comes for grammar LOL
Ray saenz
Ray--Your grammar is fine....You are just too funny! :)
Teri,
If my grammar was fine, I would be on the blogburst that neal wrote about it :( I was rejected !
Ray Saenz
Teri,
thanks I appreciate your understand and I least you do not make me feel like a horrible blogger :) I appreciate it. Keep it good and I really appreciate these comments, I needed them.
Ray Saenz