When you look at your November and December calendars you may find the
months already overloaded with seasonal obligations -- shopping, entertaining,
children's pageants, charity work, decorating the house, and so much more. If
you are also trying to sell your home, you are under extra pressure to keep
your home in "showtime" condition. And that could be the last thing you need
before the holiday spirit is broken.
It is understandable why you would be tempted to take your home off the
market during the holidays. And the list of justifications is long. If you are
too busy, buyers may be also, and you may find your efforts unrewarded by
enough showings. And what if you do get an offer? You may be faced with the
possibility of packing and moving during the busiest time of the year. Besides,
you can give your house a rest, and it will have better momentum after the
holidays. Better to just pack it in and start fresh in January, right?
But wait! Top-selling Realtor Jennie Ling says taking
your home off the market during the Christmas season is a mistake. A vice
president of the largest independently owned brokerage firm in Texas, Henry S. Miller, Realtors, and multiple Top Producer award winner, Ling exclaims, "The house sure isn't going to sell
off the market! What is the advantage of that? So you're busy. Let your Realtor
do the work. You can leave in the morning, go to work, go shopping, and let
your Realtor take care of things."
"The holidays are my best-selling period. Why? Because most people take off
work sometime during the season. The husband and wife are both off and want to
see houses. I showed homes on New Year's Day last year. I like the holidays
because the buyers have more time, and they can look at homes together."
Before you take your home off the market, consider
the following
points:
Although buyer activity may appear to slow down, the buyers who are
actively looking during the holidays are that much more serious. Ling believes
the home market is no more affected at Christmas than during other "busy"
period. If that were so, the market would shut down throughout the year as
families concentrate on spring weddings, June graduations, summer vacations,
and autumn back-to-school activities.
Many buyers deliberately choose to shop for a home after the
busy spring and summer rush. They know that it will be easier to look, and that
negotiations will be less stressful. They may not have children, or they may
have grown children, so moving to accommodate the school year isn't a
consideration. Finding the right home at the right price, however, is.
Relocating families often don't have a choice in when they can leave
for their new destination. Although 68% of transferring families have children,
many families have to transfer during the middle of the school year. These
families are that much more motivated to get their families settled in before
either before the January semester begins, or to arrange for the move during
spring break in March. If you sign a contract by New Year's Eve, the timing
couldn't be more perfect.
At Christmastime, our culture focuses on family and the home. Preparing
for the indoor activities of winter is one of the most enjoyable periods of
family life. Allowing buyers to view your home during this most hospitable of
seasons lets them better picture their own family life in the attractive
environment you have created.
When is your home ever more beautiful and inviting? You have cleaned
and decorated, and your home looks like a picture postcard. If the results are
good enough for family and friends, they will surely be good enough to impress
your buyers. Get the family team on board to do a five-minute blitz pick-up
every morning to keep holiday messes to a minimum.
With reduced inventories and motivated buyers, you will have all the
members of the MLS on your team. You may find you have more showings than you
would if your marketed your home during a busier time of the year.
If you do get a contract, you can arrange the terms to suit your needs.
If moving during the holidays isn't an option, you can put in the closing date
of your choice. "Most people can close 30 to 60 days after a contract is
written, so there is plenty of time," Ling says. "Possession and closings are
are very negotiable."
Published: November 18, 1998
Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.
 Blanche is a renowned author of five real estate books. Her newest, Bubbles, Booms and Busts: Make Money In Any Real Estate Market, McGraw-Hill, was rave-reviewed by The New York Times. She was also selected from hundreds of real estate experts to contribute to Donald Trump's book, Trump: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received: 100 Top Experts Share Their Strategies, Rutledge Hill Press, and is featured on page 68.
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In 2006, Blanche was selected among scores of candidates to author two consumer real estate guidebooks for the National Association of Realtors: The NAR Guide to Home Buying, and The NAR Guide to Home Selling, Wiley & Sons. She is currently planning two new books for the NAR and its members.
 
Known for her keen insight into real estate industry issues and for her ability to make complex subjects easy to understand, Blanche is a sought-after keynote and continuing education speaker. Real estate organizations from MLSs, to brokerages, to franchisors, to associations hire her to provide up-to-the-minute analysis of real estate industry news and advice on how to improve revenues. Her passionate delivery, peppered with stinging wit, is a huge hit with audiences and fans.
Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors, Blanche Evans, Richard Courtney, president 2007, GRAR
"The GNAR membership meeting last week featured Blanche Evans as the keynote speaker. Her comments and insights resonated extremely well with those in attendance and we have had many requests for copies of her PowerPoint Presentation. She was a terrific part of the membership meeting and convention program!" - Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors
Coverage from WSMV, Nashville - 8-14-2007
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