The spring and summer are the most obvious seasons to sell. School is out, vacations are taken, and the weather is nice. But what happens if circumstance forces you to buy or sell during the Holiday season?
Whether you’re buying or selling, you’re facing diminished audiences. While that means you have fewer opportunities to find the right buyer/seller, it also means you’re facing less competition. Also, while there are plenty of people who aren’t particularly serious during the prime months – be they “tire-kicking” buyers or “I just want to test the market” sellers – people who bear the weather and other distractions during the holidays s are typically very serious.
As a seller, this is the time to really paint a picture. Holiday scents, fanciful decorations (even if you have to buy them) and festive holiday music on your speakers can really help buyers see themselves in your property during this magical time of year. To your benefit, buyers don’t tend to care about the condition of your landscaping because it’s mostly dead anyway, but a few cold weather-friendly plants could go a long way. Oh, and make sure there’s plenty of mats/towels for them to wipe their feet before entering the house.
If you’re buying, there’s a good chance your seller will be a bit more willing to make concessions to make the deal work. They’re serious about selling. Also, there’s a chance the weather will be on your side in pointing out defects in the house, be it a roof leak, a bad furnace etc. On the downside, if the weather is under 60 degrees the inspector will not be able to run the air conditioner, so make sure a technician comes out to make sure this spring won’t give you any surprises.
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