Statistics show that the slowest time of year for home shopping is the period from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day. In fact, the market usually doesn’t pick back up until April and May. The reasons are your usual culprits such as focusing on the holiday’s, the weather, and kids in school. But, of course, there are times when moving is out of your control. Maybe a new job offer has you forced to sell your home and move across the country. Don’t fret; you can successfully sell your home even with the statistic against you.
In a recent article on msnbc.com, Dave Carpenter from the Associated Press gave five helpful tips in helping your home stand out in the Real Estate off season. Here are some of the ones I found most helpful.
In a recent article on msnbc.com, Dave Carpenter from the Associated Press gave five helpful tips in helping your home stand out in the Real Estate off season. Here are some of the ones I found most helpful.
First, he suggests taking care of any needed maintenance and repairs. The weather may be cold outside but no one wants to buy a home when the exterior looks like an abandoned home. Just as important as the exterior, however, is the interior. Home staging adds to the appeal of the home and one thing you have on your side during the holidays is great decorations. A Christmas tree in the corner filled with family ornaments and stockings hanging on the mantle can help the potential homebuyer picture their family celebrating the holiday’s there. But also remember to keep the decorations tasteful. Decorating your home like the Griswold’s will make your home appear to cluttered and is not recommended.
Another tip Carpenter proposed was displaying photos of your home in the summer. Now the potential homebuyer can picture how the home looks throughout the year. Lighting and wall colors can also help the home give that summer time feel. The winter means less daylight, which means less light entering your home. Open the drapes to let what natural light there is in, and set up extra lighting where need fit. As for the wall colors, we associate warm colors as inviting and welcoming so stick with neutral tones throughout the house.
Lastly, remembering the basics such as a clean home and pricing aggressively are just as important, if not more important, during the slow market times. I especially like this tip because home sellers tend to panic when they hear it’s the slowest time of the season to sell your home. This causes them to price their home way below value just to make sure it doesn’t linger on the market. But that doesn’t have to be the case. Simply review recent sale prices in your neighborhood and price your home competitively without having to lose a profit.
Give yourself a gift this holiday. Beat the statistics and successfully sell your home.
About Ann Stiles:
Ann is a real estate broker for Wilkinson and Associates. She began by selling homes in New York and has over 29 years of experience in real estate. After relocating with her family to North Carolina in 2008 she continued her passion for real estate. She currently resides in the Trump National Golf Club Community in Mooresville, NC with her husband and five children.
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