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Health & Fitness

Deck the Halls for Winter Sales

Realtor, Jim Lowenstern, looks at why keeping your home on the market through the holidays could yield great results.

Should you deck your halls with for sale signs or is it better to take your home off the market until  spring? No doubt many a seller is asking this question as we head into the holiday season. There are many reasons why you should keep your home on the market during this time. Let’s discuss a few of them.

First of all, the buyers actively seeking a home at this time of year are very serious. You usually don't find casual buyers hanging out in a  real estate office in December. Usually, the people out looking at real estate during the holidays are relocating or trying to buy before the year’s end for the tax break.  If they are relocating, they have no choice, they need to be in a house and settled at the completion of the holiday break so they can begin the new job, and the kids can get back to school.

Another great reason to keep your home on the market through the holidays is because it’s very easy to make your home even more appealing to buyers by making it festive at this time of year. That having been said, be careful not to overdo the religious themed decorations. Buyers are trying to visualize their things in your home and if they are not celebrating Chanukkah, a menorah may be a distraction. Likewise, the statues of Jesus, Mary and Joseph or the Christmas carols playing on your stereo may be a turn off. Try to keep the decorations simple. A pinecone centerpiece or a simple garland over the front door will do just fine to give your home that warm holiday feel without turning anyone away.

This year’s political elections may have kept many from buying a home for fear of what is ahead. Now that the election is over folks have an idea of where the markets are heading and they are much more likely to move forward with their home purchases.

Sellers that are actively in the game in November and December also lack the usual competition which gives them an edge.  Buyers will have more time to look around and really determine why your house is the place they want to call home, and from the seller’s vantage point, there are fewer homes on the market to compete with; leaving the seller in a good negotiating position.

Believe it or not, research suggests that buyers are more amenable during the holidays. They tend to be in better moods and more willing to negotiate. 

Finally, the ultimate reward for stick-to-it-iveness is that your house will sell and you will have your pick of the plethora of homes that inevitably return to the market in January and beyond leaving you with a pocketful of cash, and lots of bargaining power to be assured of getting the home of your dreams.

So Deck the Halls with For Sale signs and Come all Ye Faithful buyers, the season is a prime time to sell!

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