The turkeys are being trimmed, the halls decked, and lights…well, lit. The holiday season is right around the corner, and you’re wondering how in the world you can sell your home during such a busy time!
Luckily, we’re here to help. Consider this your quick guide to successfully selling your home during the holiday season.
Work with a Professional
First and foremost, it’s critical to work with a professional—no matter the time of year. Here are just a few ways that a local real estate professional can help you:
- Find the right price
- Navigate market trends
- Recommend personalized staging tips
- Use full marketing arsenal to reel in buyers
- Conduct showings
- Handle negotiations
- Recommend other local contacts, like staging consultants, lenders, and hand
- Answer any and all questions along the way
Price It Right
One of the most crucial aspects of a successful home sale? Pricing your property right. Price it too low, and you’ll miss out on fully maximizing your investment. Price it too high, and you just won’t attract the right buyers—and you’ll likely have to make a price reduction. Sure, you could use an automatic home value estimator, but those usually use outdated data and don’t take into account any recent upgrades you’ve made.
But don’t worry—we can help. With our comprehensive home value, we’ll take into account things like local trends, recently sold homes in your neighborhood, and any updates you’ve made, then report back with the most accurate and competitive price possible.
Up Your Curb Appeal
During the fall and winter seasons, buyers will be a little pickier than usual. They know they won’t have as much competition, so they can afford to judge homes more harshly than in the more competitive seasons. This means your home will need to look its best from the second they pass it on the street.
At this point, the holiday season can work in your favor! While you want to be sure not to overdo it with giant inflatables and reindeer on the roof, you can use warm lights and minimal decorations to make your home look more welcoming.
You’ll still have to take care of exterior maintenance, as well. Consider powerwashing your siding, keep your lawn trim and debris-free, clean out the gutters, and clear the sidewalks.
Stage & Market
Of course, before buyers even see the outside of your home, they’ll likely be looking at photos of it online first—and those photos will determine whether or not they’d like to see more in person! This is where the staging process comes in.
Again, you can use the holidays to your advantage here! Set out some seasonal greenery like cinnamon pinecones and evergreen pine stems, use minimal string lights to add a touch of warmth, and fill your home with cozy seasonal scents. Be sure to also consult a few more of our helpful staging tips for more year-round information.
Once you’re home is staged and photographed, it’s time for the marketing phase. This is one of the many areas where it comes in handy to work with a professional. At the Kotaska Team, we’ll use our wide inventory of marketing resources, including web pages, social media platforms, local advertising outlets, real estate contacts, and more in order to ensure that every buyer knows your home is on the market!
Sell Your Home during the Holiday Season
You don’t have to put off your selling plans just because of the holiday season. In fact, you can use the timing to work in your favor!
If you’re looking for more tips on selling soon, we can help. Take some time to browse our selling resources, find the right price for your home, and give us a call when you’re ready to take the next steps.