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Wednesday, December 13, 2000 Should you take your home off the market during the holidays? November and December are tough months for a seller to keep their home in "showtime" condition. The holidays are loaded with many seasonal obligations shopping, entertaining, children's pageants, charity work, decorating the house, and so much more. It is understandable why many sellers are tempted to take their homes off the market. And the list of justifications and concerns is long: If I'm too busy to show my house, isn't a potential buyer also too busy to come see it? What if I do get an offer? Will I be faced with the possibility of packing and moving during the busiest time of the year? If I give my house a "rest", will it have better momentum after the holidays? Better to just pack it in and start fresh in January, right? "At Starr's Mill Realty, we believe it can be a mistake to take your home off the market during the holiday season," said Carolyn West, owner and licensed broker. "A house not on the market is a house that can't be sold. "A good realtor will help relieve the pressure on you," West continued. "You can leave in the morning, go to work, go shopping, and let your realtor take care of things." The holidays can be an opportunistic selling period. Why? Because most people take off work sometime during the season. Husbands and wives are both off, and can more easily go to see houses together. Before a seller takes his or her home off the market, consider the following: Although buyer activity may appear to slow down, the buyers who are actively looking during the holidays are that much more serious. Agents also believe the home market is no more affected at the holidays than during other "busy" periods. If that were so, the market would shut down at different times 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. Relocating families often don't have a choice when they can leave for their new destination. Although 68 percent 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 the January semester begins, or to arrange for the move during spring break in March. If a seller signs a contract by New Year's Eve, the timing couldn't be more perfect. At holiday time, 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 a seller's home during this most hospitable of all seasons lets them better picture their own family life in this attractive environment. When is a home ever more beautiful and inviting? It's clean, decorated, and looks like a picture postcard. If the results are good enough for family and friends, they will surely be good enough to impress buyers. With fewer homes on the market and motivated buyers still to be had, many more realtors are likely to show the homes available. A seller may be surprised to find they have more showings during this time than waiting for another supposedly busier time of the year. If a seller does get a contract during this time, he or she can arrange the terms to suit his or her needs. If moving during the holidays isn't an option, the closing date can be pushed back. Most buyers can close 30 to 60 days after a contract is written, so there is plenty of time. Possession and closings are very negotiable. For more information on selling your home, visit Starr's Mill Realty's website at www.carolynwest.com or call Carolyn West at 770-631-2822.
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