Selling a house over the holiday season is not an easy decision. It is hard to keep a home 'showing ready' when there is already some much on your plate, but the buyers that are out shopping this time of year are serious. They need to buy and they need to buy now. Those are the type of buyers you want seeing your home. The 'lookie loos' take some time off—thankfully.
So, what can you do to make things easier for those potential buyers? What are the deadly mistakes that you need to avoid?
1. Canceling Showings: Don't cancel showings once they are scheduled. Everyone's time is tight this time of year. Chances are they won't bother re-scheduling. Plus, many buyers are relocating from another state and are flying in just to look at home's before reporting to work on January 2nd. That said, if you need time off for a cookie exchange or other pre-planned event, call your agent and tell them a few days ahead of time.
2. Going Overboard: Your holiday décor should err on the side of minimalism this year. While you don't have to be Ebenezer Scrooge, you don't have to hang lights like Clark Griswold either. Go for simple and subtle so buyers are not overwhelmed, but can see the 'bones' of your home.
3. Turning Off Lights: Turning off the lights when you leave a room is just a force of habit that our parents drilled into us, and their parent drilled into them. When you sell a house in the winter, particularly over the holidays, leave all the lights on for showings. Every single one. Winter can be dreary and it gets dark so early once Daylight Savings Time kicks in. Leaving the lights on makes your home show better. Honest.
4. Turning Down the Heat: Many homes have programmable thermostats that lower the heat once everyone leaves a home for work or school and then turns it up again in the evening once they return. Showing a house should be the one exception. Your heating bill will be higher, but resist the urge to turn down the heat. You want buyers to take off their coats and linger with their agents while discussing your home. If it is chilly, they won't stay as long.
5. The Smell Test: This is a deadly mistake, but it is also a tricky one. You need to recruit a very blunt and honest friend. Have them smell your house. Don't spray anything or light a candle. Sometimes our houses smell stale, particularly in the winter. We also don't smell our own pets after living with them for so long. You want to know if the litter box stinks or if your friend can smell the gerbil from the front door.
Get your house sold this winter by avoiding all the deadly mistakes that sellers can make this time of year. For more tips, talk to your real estate agent.
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