Selling your home during the holidays?

The holidays can be a great time of year to sell your home. While many real estate agents advocate waiting until February to put a house on the market, statistics from the North Alabama Multiple Listing Service (NALMLS) show November and December to be stronger selling months than January and February. In 2006, the average number of homes sold per month was 1,068. There was only a slight decrease in sales during the holidays, with 931 homes sold during November and 915 sold during December. The true decline in sales is actually during January and February, when people are taking time to recharge from the holidays. January 2006 saw a 31% decrease in sales, with 734 homes and February was just under December with 914 homes sold. Sales of existing homes accounted for 91.4% of sales in November and 91.8% of sales in December, as sales in new home construction.

The advantages of putting your house on the market during this time of year can oftentimes outweigh the disadvantages. During the holidays, sellers will not see as much traffic from people who are “just looking.” Buyers that are looking tend to be more serious, and they have more time to shop together, which is an advantage over other times of the year. Sellers may get dismayed easily, as a result of the slower traffic; however, they should keep in mind that it’s the quality of buyers versus the quantity. In addition, while families with children often prefer to wait until summer to move in order to avoid relocating during the school year, the break between semesters is a convenient time for moving as well. For both buyers and sellers, an advantage to holiday real estate transactions is that real estate agents, as well as lenders, home inspectors, appraisers, and title companies, have more time to spend with clients than at busier times of the year.

Homes that are decorated for the holidays can move buyers to look past any flaws in the home and imagine themselves living in the house. An important tip for sellers is to be tasteful in holiday decorations, as there is the potential for alienating buyers with overwhelming accessories.

The biggest problem sellers face during the holidays is going to be the stress of putting a house on the market, combined with the stress that normally accompanies this time of year. It is of the utmost importance that you keep your home immaculate so it shows well to prospective buyers. As a result of this stress, listing a home during the holidays is not for the faint of heart.

The important thing to remember when you are contemplating whether or not to sell your home is your motivation. If you need to move, regardless of the time of year, it’s always a good time to put your home on the market. If you are contemplating putting your home on the market “just to see what happens,” I would advocate that you wait until you are truly motivated.