Want to Sell Your Home During the Holidays? Now May Be the Time!

In today’s competitive real estate market, sometimes the standard open houses are not yielding much success, so some home-sellers are choosing an alternate way, that's been dubbed in our industry, 'Extreme Open Houses". 

These events are causing quite a stir, with catered refreshments, elaborate parties, or even prizes in the guise of an open house, with the hope that someone will buy their home. It is the holiday season, after all and people are in a festive mood --throwing a party is always a good idea to draw their attention.

The biggest advantage of having an extreme open house is that potential buyers can see your home in a completely different light, giving you a chance to display your home's most appealing features. For example, if you're cooking at your party, your guests can focus, and enjoy your kitchen in a very real, relaxed, practical way. 

Instead of showing a cold, empty home, you can attract potential buyers with a warm and vibrant home full of personal furnishings. Throwing a party in a warm and inviting home is a good idea when you invite people who don't plan on buying your home, since many of them will tell their friends about it.

Keeping it Simple
You don't really need to throw an elaborate party to draw people in, but you can offer them nice snacks or a glass of wine, giving them a chance to unwind in the living room or patio.  How to begin? Make a list of friends and acquaintances, send out some flyers with you contact information and some facts about your home!

Although the holidays aren't really considered the best time to sell, the real estate market is much tighter, resulting in less competition for sellers. At the same time, buyers are still in the market for homes, in hopes that they can purchase.

During the holidays, you can liven up your home with some lights and ornaments to attract buyers. Although you can make your home “shine” during the holidays, try not to overdo it. Homes often look their best during the holidays, but sellers should be careful not to overdo it on the decor.  

Also keep in mind that emotions play a big role in home-buyer purchases. A well organized home with a few tasteful decorations shows much better than a cluttered home with your kid’s toys lying around the living room. People will often purchase a home solely based on their gut feelings. If a buyer “falls in love” with your home, chances are they’re going to be more inclined to purchase it.

On a final note, it’s also a good idea to make it easy for people to stop by to see your home. In this case, flexibility is a key factor. People are busy during the holidays, and the chances of selling your home will be much greater if make it available for them to see.

Despite the fact that many people feel that the holidays aren’t a good time to buy or sell a home, this really isn’t the case. With a little knowledge and effort, you can sell your home in a timely manner, relax, and enjoy the Holidays!