Will My Home Sell Over the Holidays?
There is no escaping it, the holidays are fast approaching. Christmas tree stands are popping up in parking lots, at least 2 Boston area radio stations are playing all holiday music, all the time. And we are very excited that the smokestack Christmas tree at the Wannalancit Mill in Lowell, Massachusetts will shine again this year. The 270 foot “tree” will be illuminated during this weekend’s City of Lights Parade and Holiday Arts Stroll.
Amidst the festive spirit, there is often a looming question in the minds of home sellers and real estate agents alike. Should I keep my home listed on the market during the holidays? Or a slight variation for would-be sellers, should I wait until Spring to list my house? This question comes up often at our office sales meetings and the answer is that there is no single answer, but current market activity is a good place to look. Laurie Cadigan, our broker at Barrett & Company, provided some insight:
“Judging from the activity and offers happening on our listings over the past 30 days, I believe we will see an uptick in accepted offers this year compared to the last few. It appears there are serious, qualified buyers out in the market right now.”
All in all, there are many benefits to keeping your home listed for sale at this time of year so we have put together our top reasons for your house to be on the market during the holidays:
- Many job transfers occur at the beginning of a calendar year. We see an increase in the number of househunting transferees, particularly international ones, during November and December.
- Buyers who are looking for a home during the holidays tend to be more serious.
- There are fewer homes on the market to choose from during the holidays – so sellers have less competition.
- Houses that are decorated during the holidays tend to show better
- People have more free time during the holidays to preview homes.
- Buyers can be more emotional in their decision making during the holiday season.
- You can sell your home now and specify a delayed closing or extended occupancy.
- By selling your home now, you will have the opportunity to buy during the spring when more homes will be on the market.
- You may have fewer showings, but buyers will be understanding if you can’t accommodate a showing.
Sure there may be fewer buyers but you’ll also have less competition and experience shows this can often result in a quicker sale and a better price for your property!
Beth is a practicing Realtor and Interactive Marketing Manager at Barrett & Company Real Estate in Concord, Massachusetts. She spends her days coaching home buyers and sellers through the intricacies of buying and selling property and training her fellow agents on the importance of and benefits to an online presence, most recently on Google+! Read more of her work on the Barrett Massachusetts real estate blog.
