Why List During Holiday Season

Some owners discount the importance of having their property listed during the Holiday Season, especially from Thanksgiving through New Years. For the most part, they are convinced that people don’t buy property during this time because their minds are directed to more important things. Even if people are out looking at property, many owners don’t want to be bothered with cleaning and decorating for a showing appointment.

It’s important that we understand that some people are desperate to sell. It is their top priority. Nothing is more important to them. It’s also important that real estate agents understand there’s always buyers faced with deadlines regardless of the season. In reality there’s no time known to mankind when someone doesn’t want to buy or sell real estate. It would behoove agents to realize this important fact and remember it always. Let’s look at some important characteristics of Holiday buyers.

People who look for a home during the holidays are very serious buyers. Chances are they are faced with deadlines. They need to be in a new home in time for school to begin or because they have a new job. Serious buyers have fewer houses to choose from during the holidays. This means there is less competition which could save them money. It all comes down to supply and demand. Since the supply of listings will dramatically increase in January, there will be less demand for your particular home. Less demand means less money to the seller.

Another important reason a seller needs to have their home listed during the Holiday Season deals with decorations. In order for a home to attract the attention of a buyer, the seller needs to have the home looking appealing, inviting, and possess a welcome personality. The Holiday Season is the primary time of year in which people decorate their homes for visitations from friends and family. The house will have a warm, loving feel that doesn’t exist other times of the year.

Buyers are more emotional during the holidays so they are more likely to pay the listed price, or at least pay the amount you are willing to settle for. Holiday buyers also have more time to look at homes because they are off work due to the Holidays.

Some people must buy before the end of the year for tax purposes. Most sellers don’t tell you exactly why they want to buy unless you have a honest consultations with them prior to establishing an agency relationship. I have written in previous articles about the importance of having a truthful consultation so we can know how to better represent them. If we have this conversation, we will know they are looking for tax advantages.

Since January is traditionally the month for employees to begin new jobs, they may not be able to wait until spring to make the move. Transferees within a company will also relocate to new areas and begin their new position in January. Sellers who don’t want their home listed during the holidays will not capture this specific market which may result in a financial loss to the seller.

Some sellers may elect to list their home during the holidays but don’t want to close until after the beginning of another year for tax purposes. That’s not a problem either. Closings can be delayed for a few weeks with very little affects to the buyer or the seller. Also by selling now, the seller may have an opportunity to be a non-contingent buyer during the spring when many more houses are on the market for less money. This will allow the seller to sell high and buy low.

If a home owner is serious about selling their home, it is advantageous to have their property listed during the holidays. It is not necessary to have a lot of people look at a home that’s for sale in order to produce a buyer. It only takes one person to look at a house that likes what they see, and wants to buy it. If a seller decides not to list their home until after the holidays because they don’t want to be bothered by lookers, they may miss the best opportunity to sell their home. One thing is certain; if a house isn’t listed for sale, the chances of it selling are a minimum.

Should you have specific questions concerning various issues, please let me know and I’ll research the answer for you. I also want to encourage you to subscribe to our “News & Updates” weekly report so you can stay abreast of issues that might affect you when buying or selling real estate. If you haven’t visited my website, please go to www.AlabamaRealEstateInstitute.com  and view previous articles.

Comments 1

  1. In the San Diego real estate market the fall and winter have always been the best time to buy San Diego homes. The trend lines consistently show reduced prices from October through December, with increases through the spring and summer. I think it is much the same in every real estate market, as many buyers leave the market during the holidays. But I agree, that listing during the holiday season is also very effective, as there are far fewer homes on the market, and therefore less competition for property sellers.

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