Preparing Your Home to Sell Over the Holidays

Traditionally, the real estate market is quieter from November to January,. However, serious buyers are often looking to make a quick purchase. Plus there are fewer listings on the market. An agent with a solid strategy can help you seal the deal with less hassle.

So, now that you've decided to keep your home listed throughout the holiday season and capitalize on a quieter market, here are five tips to prepare your home to make a fantastic first impression. 

When you're selling your home, you want buyers to walk in and imagine themselves making memories, which often include some holiday or seasonal decorations. But don’t overwhelm them with your own traditions. If you have a lot of decorations, this is the year to leave some in the box and keep things to a tasteful minimum.

Decorations that are too large or take up too much space can crowd your home and distract buyers. You don't want selling features like a fireplace or grand staircase to be masked behind an oversized tree!

Adding decorative lighting can be an asset in opening up smaller spaces at showings. Just ensure that the area you're illuminating has been properly decluttered.

A well-decorated neighbourhood presents a sense of community and safety that can appeal to homebuyers. Just as you did with the interior, don't go overboard with your exterior decorations. Use tasteful lighting to highlight unique and interesting features of your home's architecture.

At this time of the year, your trees have likely lost their leaves, leaving your home even more exposed. Pay extra attention to any minor repairs or touch-ups that need to be done, like painting and gutter cleaning.

Keeping your yard and driveway or sidewalks tidy serves two purposes. First, it looks better. A walkway filled with leaves or snow makes a buyer think about how much work will be involved in owning the home. Second, it's safer. You don't want to risk a REALTOR® or their client slipping on wet leaves or ice at a showing.  

Invite buyers to come inside and and get out of the cold - make it a cozy welcome! Increase the temperature slightly so that nobody gets a chill and the floors feel warm, as many guests will remove dirty shoes before walking around.

If you have time, pop a tray of cookies in the oven, so your home smells wonderful. If that's not possible, use candles and essential oil diffusers with iconic scents of the season, such as pumpkin spice or balsam and cedar.

Would you usually have water or coffee to offer during showings? Opt for hot apple cider or a seasonal hot tea to warm everyone up.

Just like A/C will be top of mind for buyers in the summer, your furnace and heating system will definitely come up during winter showings. Get ahead of the questions by getting a furnace tune-up early in the season so everything is in working order before an offer and subsequent inspection are on the table. And change the furnace filter too.

Taking great photos for your listing should always be a priority, but it's even more critical when the weather outside is frightful and travelling for viewings is even more so (BC Ferries over the holidays? We've all been there!). Homebuyers are even more likely to start their house hunt by browsing listings online, so work with an experienced REALTOR® to properly clean and stage your home before getting professional photos done. 

Has your home been on the market for a while? Discuss the photos with your REALTOR® to see if they still work. If new photos are needed, still include some images of the warmer months so that buyers can imagine living there year-round.

If you're thinking of selling, Connect with me today for a free market evaluation!