Do you want to sell your house in Raleigh – Durham but have felt the time just isn’t right because we’re in the middle of the holiday 
season? We can help you sell your home now, check out our little bits of advice for selling your home during the holidays!
December, specifically Christmas & New Years can be an excellent time to sell! With fewer homes on the market, in an area where inventory is already at a record low, your house will stand out to potential buyers. People moving during this time will usually have a solid reason for doing so. You will often find many people who are ready to purchase ASAP! This article will help you use the time of year to your advantage. Read on to learn more!
Think: Warm, Cozy & Inviting
No matter who you are or where you live, people love to feel a warm comfy home when walking in the door. During showings or open houses, you can offer seasonal snacks such as cookies, biscotti or brie. Offer espresso, hot cocoa or apple cider. If you have a fireplace, light it. In warmer climates, or if it’s unusually warm outside like it has been this year, you can use an electric fireplace, with the heat setting turned off.
One of the best ways to create a great atmosphere is with seasonal scents, candles or electric wax warmers are great. Gingerbread, cinnamon, pine, and freshly baked bread can all make people feel right at home… just not all at the same time! You want to keep it cozy… never cluttered or distracting.
Hire a Professional
Hiring a professional to decorate your house is probably the best decision you could make. Look for a professional home stager or interior designer who can help you turn your house into something right out of a movie set. A professional will have an impartial eye and can help you rein it in when need be.
Working with a designer will likely require you to purchase decor outright, however, there are staging companies who can bring their own chic pieces right to your door. The items are returned after the showing or sale.
Don’t Use Every Christmas Decoration You Own
While funny, Clark Grizwald had it wrong, even the most beautiful holiday decorations can appear cluttered if not used sparingly. Many of us have mismatched boxes of ornaments, sentimental items collected over time and stored in a holiday hodgepodge. If you are selling your house during the holiday season, show some restraint with the items you put out. The skydiving Santa with the hole in his parachute should stay in his box this year (he probably shouldn’t jump that anymore anyway).
In addition, personalized items can make prospective buyers feel as if they are intruding. When you are showing the house, put away stockings with names and decorations made by the kids. It’s also a good idea to remove your family pictures. Of course, you can put everything back out the minute your guests have left.
Don’t Forget Curb Appeal
Your front yard is the first thing people will see when viewing your house. Including simple and tasteful decorations can be a huge factor in making people feel welcome. Don’t go overboard, but a few seasonal items will help foster the warm and inviting environment you wish to create. Lighting can be a wonderful addition to evening showings. Keep pace with your neighbors. You don’t need to light up the whole neighborhood, however, you don’t want to be the only dark house on the street either.
Seek Out The Right Type of Potential Buyers
Think about who might be moving during the holiday season. Families might be moving during the Christmas break. Investors might be looking to purchase before the end of the year. Students and staff might also choose year-end to relocate. Make sure your home is advertised where it can reach these demographics. Advertise near a school, showcase your listing in a local business journal or place an ad in a University newspaper.
Stay optimistic and implore some “out of the box” techniques to find your ideal buyer! And if you don’t find a buyer during the holidays… relax. January is only a few days away!
The article seems interesting right from the beginning, helpful for all homeowners out there! Thanks.