If you’re thinking about selling your home, chances are you’ve been told that the end of the year is a terrible time to do it. You’ve likely heard two main reasons to back up this assertion: the holidays are too stressful and there are no buyers this time of year.
Well, we’re here to argue that this is no longer true in today’s market. While selling during the holidays can present its own set of challenges, it actually can be a great time to put your home up for sale. Here are five great reasons why.
There’s less competition
During the holiday season, many homeowners decide to forgo any perceived hassle and take their homes off the market. This can be a great opportunity if you decide to sell now. Fewer homes on the market means less competition for your home, which is especially good if there are many houses like yours in your community. If there are fewer homes for potential buyers to visit, you’re more likely to get a better offer due to low inventory.
Buyers are motivated
The holidays are a busy time. Add into that a home search and it’s easy to see how some people could be overwhelmed and simply opt out of their home search during the holiday season. If a buyer isn’t restricted by an upcoming relocation, they can afford to take a little time off from their search. But there will be some buyers out there who need to find a home by a certain time. These types of buyers are a seller’s dream, as they are particularly motivated. They’re willing to set aside comfort and savings in order to expedite the buying process. I’ve found many buyers that need to transfer here, will use their holiday vacation days to shop for their new home. They’re getting a great vacation in San Diego while looking for their new home!
People are browsing online listings
Since the holiday season generally brings vacation time for most people, it means they have extra time to devote to home searches, especially those conducted online. If your home is on the market, it will show up in online searches, giving many more potential buyers an opportunity to discover your listing.
International buyers are increasing in number
More and more foreign homebuyers are becoming interested in the U.S. real estate market. These buyers don’t often follow the same schedule or calendar as we do in the states, so they may be using this time to do some serious house hunting.
Your home looks particularly nice
Even if you’re in the process of selling, you probably still feel compelled to celebrate the holiday season by decking the halls. Don’t fight that urge. Emotion plays a key factor in a buyer’s decision-making process, and if your home looks especially lovely decorated for the holidays, that could work in your favor. Just be sure to keep the decorations tasteful and that they don’t take away or hide any of your home’s best features.
So there you have it. Don’t let fear keep you from selling your house during the holiday season. Now is a great time to list – I’ver personally sold many homes over the years in Rancho Santa Fe, Del Mar, Carlsbad, La Jolla- all between Thanksgiving and New Years. There’s so much down time during the holildays- make the most of it by getting your house on the market now!
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