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Weighing the Pros and Cons of Selling Your Home During the Holidays

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As your neighbors are hanging their holiday lights, you’re getting ready to list your home to another potential buyer. But is selling your home during the holidays a good idea? Just like with most things, selling your home during the holidays has its pros and cons.

Pros of Selling Your Home During the Holidays

The holiday season between October 31 and December 31 is the most hectic time of the year. From Halloween to New Year’s Eve there’s typically a flurry of parties, activities, and national holidays.

Home buyers historically have felt the holiday season too busy for home shopping. This has made sellers avoid hanging a “For Sale” sign. However, marketing your property when there are fewer homes for sale means your home will have less competition, making it easier to stand out to potential buyers.

Other positives for selling your home during the are people have time off, so it can be quite a bit easier to coordinate showings. Also, buyers trying to settle on a new home before the end of the year are more serious about closing a deal so they are more likely to put in an offer. Lastly, having less competition and less inventory can help you get more money for your property.

Cons of Selling Your Home During the Holiday Season

Trying to close a sale in December, especially after mid-month, can be a challenge. Like most people, lenders, escrow and title agents and bankers typically take time off. Working around holiday travel schedules can make it tricky to get everyone to coordinate all your paperwork in a timely manner. What are some other cons?

Whether you’re traveling or you have company in town, it can be more difficult to keep your home clean or to conduct showings. Also, if you live in an area with cold or snowy weather, you may find that showing requests are lower if the weather is less than desirable.

Lastly, staging a home for sale during the holiday season can present unique challenges. If you typically put up a tree and go all out with garlands, wreaths, and a full Santa collection, you may want to scale back. The more you can de-personalize a home to make it appealing to as many potential buyers as possible (they’ll be better able to see themselves in the home — and that’s pretty important during the holidays!)

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