For many people, the holiday season is not an ideal time to be on the market; however, sometimes moving has to happen.  While I’ve met with plenty of sellers who are hesitant to put their homes on the market during this time of year, the truth is that selling your home during the holidays is possible.  Here are some tips to help guide your home selling experience during this time of year.

What not to do:  Take photographs with seasonal decorations.

It is important to know how long homes in your area are on the market.  A home in Locust Grove may take more than a month to go under contract, so a photograph with Christmas decorations might look cozy in December, but by January the photographs will appear dated.  Photographs of homes not tied to the season will feel newer and fresher to potential buyers looking at homes online.  

What to do:  Have photographs taken before you decorate.

Selling your home in Locust Grove during the holidays doesn’t mean that you can not decorate it.  Just get the professional photographs done before you put up the decorations.  

midascode / Pixabay

What not to do:  Display every holiday decoration you own.

The larger inflatable outdoor decorations look fun at night, but during the day they are just lumps of fabric laying in your yard.  Your fall decorations turn the living room into a cozy space, but they distract buyers from seeing features in your home that stay with the home like the fireplace or built in bookshelves.

What to do:  Decorate with purpose.

Holiday decorations bring us joy.  When your home in Locust Grove is for sale, place decorations with a purpose throughout your home.  For example, having a Christmas tree in the bay window instead of the corner of the living room brings attention to the window.  A table set for a Thanksgiving feast highlights the usefulness of the dining room.  While adding decorations to a home during a holiday is enjoyable as homeowners, it can also add clutter to the space. Buyers can have trouble seeing through the decorations.  By keeping the decorations more on the minimal side, you allow buyers to see the spaces in your home clearly.  

TerriC / Pixabay

What not to do:  Cancel showings because of holiday events.

The holiday season can be a busier time of the year with family and friend gatherings and visits out of town.  It’s not only a busy time for sellers though.  Buyers are also busy.  

What to do:  Ask your REALTOR® to block out times when your home is unavailable for showings.

Showings are potential offers.  If you cancel a showing at the last minute because you forgot about the party being held at your home, then you risk losing an offer.  Instead, talk with your REALTOR® before the holiday craziness sets in and ask your agent to block out the days for showings when your home is not available.  Buyers will see the times that are open and select one that works for them.

What not to do:  Put off cleaning because “nobody will want to see our home this week.”

People celebrate different holidays.  So, while December 23rd might not seem like a day for a showing, it could be the perfect day for a buyer.  While showings typically slow down during the week of a major holiday, they still happen.  In fact, for some people, this might be one of the few times they have time off during a week.

What to do:  Maintain your home with weekly cleans and daily pick ups.

It is easier to keep a home ready for showings by doing weekly cleans and daily pick ups.  During the holiday season, this can be a more challenging task.  However, taking ten minutes every evening to tackle a room can really pay off in the long run.  For example, on Mondays straighten the pantry and cupboards in your kitchen.  On Tuesday, tidy up the living room.  Not only will this help in making your weekly cleans easier, it will also keep your home in Locust Grove ready for last minute showings.