What You Need to Know About Selling Your Home During the Holidays

The holidays are in full swing, and if you happen to be selling your home, there are some important themes to keep in mind.

Before you go all out with the tinsel and lights, here are some useful tips and suggestions for homeowners when listing during the busy holiday season.

Keep the holiday decorations simple

Dressing up one’s home for the holidays is a beloved tradition, however, it’s something that savvy sellers should be mindful of when listing their property for sale. And there are good reasons for it. One of the most important marketing tools when listing a house for sale is high quality photos, and holiday decorations add to visual clutter. Additionally, the photos won’t age well if the home is still listed for sale into the spring months. Meanwhile, during showings, you want to ensure buyers are focused on your home’s best features and not distracted by the decorations. So, save the inflatable snowman for next year and keep the décor tasteful and simple.

Winter landscaping still makes a difference

Weather patterns in the Midwest are notoriously unpredictable, meaning that it’s important to take advantage of the rare warm-ish, sunny days in the lead up to the January deep freeze. Whether it’s professional landscapers or a DIY approach, take the opportunity to clean up fallen leaves and dead plants to boost curb appeal and give potential buyers a good impression of your home.

Keep close tabs on an empty home during cold snaps

If you’re planning on marketing an empty house or heading on vacation, make sure that someone is available to keep an eye on your property, whether it’s a neighbor or your @properties listing agent. Midwesterners know well the havoc that frigid temps can wreak on an empty home. Check in on the heating system and keep the thermostat at a reasonable temperature to prevent frozen pipes.

Price your home accordingly

Buyers who house hunt during the holidays are often in a position where they need to move sooner rather than later. And pricing your home correctly is a critical component of capturing the interest of those serious buyers. Remember that an overpriced home can scare people off, so it’s important to be priced properly from the beginning. Your agent is your best resource to help with analyzing local market conditions and developing a price point strategy for listing.

Take the pressure off yourself

No matter what anyone says, selling a home can be an emotionally taxing endeavor. Lean on your agent when needed to help take some of the burden off your shoulders. The timing is about you and what makes the most sense in your situation. As the largest local brokerage in the Chicago metro area, @properties and its vast network of agents are marketing pros with the knowledge and can-do attitude to get your home sold, freeing up sellers to focus on enjoying the holidays and moving forward with their next real estate endeavor.