There has always been some debate as to what the ideal time of year is to sell a home. In the past, many homeowners avoided selling during the holidays because potential buyers were preoccupied with festivities and there simply wasn’t enough time to coordinate checking out properties with their real estate agent. But selling during the season can be joyous. Here are the benefits of selling your home during the holiday season vs. waiting until the New Year, along with repair tips to make your home more appealing to buyers.
Did this lady just make a sale? Image by dfbphotos via Flickr.
Selling Now
Perhaps the biggest advantage is the overall lack of competition you’re likely to encounter, increasing the potential that you’ll make a sale, according to Business Insider. Although there will be fewer buyers, they tend to be very serious about making a purchase. Zillow suggests that traditional buying and selling seasons have evolved as a result of instant, ubiquitous access to property listings, making the holidays a fine time to list.
Since buyers have access to the Internet 24/7 and there is an increase in mobile use, it’s relatively easy to catch their eye as long as your images showcase the good condition of your property. With many buyers being off work for the holidays, this gives them the opportunity to check listings and look at homes. There is also a better chance of selling to relocation buyers who are visiting your area in November and December.
If you decide to sell at this time, here are some must-do repairs:
Check for bed bugs and other pests. Orkin can help you identify bed bugs and find common areas they are found.
Clean out gutters
Do some landscaping to make the exterior look more inviting (maybe even put a festive wreath on the front door!)
Repaint any rooms that need it
Replace damaged flooring
Organize and clear out unnecessary objects
If your home has acquired some unpleasant odors due to pets, smoking, etc., you may want wash the walls or install a new furnace filter to minimize the odors. In terms of smokers, it’s wise to have them sweep up any cigarette butts laying around.
Here are some optional repairs:
Install new lighting
Replace window screens
Upgrade sink faucets in your kitchen and bathroom
Waiting Until the New Year
If you’re filled to the brim with activities or simply don’t want to deal with holding open houses and having strangers in your home at this time, it’s better to hold off until after the holidays. In the event that family members are staying with you, it’s likely to be bothersome to everyone involved.
And when it comes to sprucing up the outside of your home, the cold weather can be a hindrance.Unless you’re living in a warm climate like Florida, this can make it difficult or uncomfortable to complete projects. Since many contractors aren’t working a normal schedule during the holidays, it can be a burden to find the skilled labor required to complete major jobs.
Thanks to guest blogger: Debrah Stokes
Debrah became a real estate agent after spending 12 years as a high school science teacher. She loves the change of pace the career change has brought to her life.
The post Selling Your Home During the Holidays vs. Waiting Until the New Year appeared first on Maryland Suburban Homes.