Discover Denver Luxury Homes & Real Estate - Kelli Lanphere - Excellence in Real Estate Since 1984 -

When you look at your November and December calendars you may find that the months are already overloaded with seasonal obligations -- shopping, entertaining, children's pageants, charity work, decorating the house and so much more. If you are also trying to sell your property, you're under extra pressure to keep your house in "show-time" condition. And that could be the last thing that you need before the holiday spirit is finally broken!

Let's say that you've had your home on the market for many months without a sale and the holidays are drawing near. Should you call it quits and take your home off the market until next year? Or is it better to continue marketing your home through the holiday season? Generally speaking, the home sale market is most active during the spring and fall. The summer months are usually slow because buyers turn their attention from home buying to vacationing and, home sales tend to drop off a little from Thanksgiving through the winter months.

It is understandable why you would be tempted to take your property off the market during the holidays. And the list of justifications is long. If you are too busy, buyers may also be too busy and you may find that your efforts are not rewarded by enough showings. And what if you do get an offer? You may be faced with the possibility of packing and moving during the busiest time of the year. Besides, if you give your house a rest, it may have better momentum after the holidays. So, maybe it is better to just pack it in and start fresh in January, right?

But wait! Some top-selling Brokers say that taking your home off the market during the Christmas season is a mistake. One broker exclaims, "The house sure isn't going to sell if it's off the market! What's the advantage of that? If you're busy...let your Broker do the work. You can leave in the morning, go to work, go shopping and let your Broker take care of things." You can help keep your sanity during the holidays by modifying the showing procedure for a few weeks. One option is by requesting that Brokers make showing appointments a day in advance during this period. While there may be times when your home won't be available for showings, most buyers will understand your need for privacy during the holidays.

Another broker claims, "The holidays are my best-selling period because most people are able to take some time off work during the holiday season. I like the holidays because the buyers have more time and they can look at homes together." You can also be at an advantage selling during the holiday months. This is a time when many sellers pull their homes off the market so there is usually less new inventory coming on the market because most people perceive that this time is not the best opportunity to sell. This can favorably change the supply & demand dynamic by creating a low inventory market, at least temporarily, which benefits sellers who keep their homes for sale. There are always buyers who need to buy homes, regardless of the time of year or the weather conditions. What varies is the number of buyers in the market at any given time. There may be fewer serious buyers looking for homes in November and December, but those who are looking often have an urgent need to move. While it may be inconvenient to market your home over the holidays and interruptions for showings (particularly on short notice) may interfere with your holiday plans, most homes look particularly inviting when they're all dressed up!

So, before you take your home off the market, consider the following points:

Although buyer activity may appear to slow down, the buyers who are actively looking during the holidays are usually very serious. Many brokers believe that the home market is no more affected through the holidays than during other "busy" periods. Otherwise, the market would shut down throughout the year as families concentrate on spring weddings, June graduations, summer vacations and autumn back-to-school activities. And, 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. Finding the right home at the right price, however, is.

Often, relocating families don't have a choice as to when they can move to their new destination. Although 68% 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 family settled in before the January semester begins or to arrange for the move during spring break in March. If you sign a contract by New Year's Eve, the timing couldn't be more perfect!

Even though the home sale business tends to be seasonal, each real estate year is somewhat unique. An unanticipated event, like a change in the tax laws, a shift in interest rates or unseasonably mild weather conditions can trigger a pick-up in the real estate market at a time that you wouldn't expect it. The local economic picture also has a direct impact on home sales. In an area that's booming, home sales may be strong all year long. Therefore, make your decision about whether to take your home off the market based on what's happening in your neighborhood market and on your own personal situation. Ask your Broker for an update on home sale activity in your neighborhood. Are buyers still out in force or are they more interested in preparing for the holidays? If the market is slow and your need to move is not urgent, consider taking your home off the market until the market activity improves. If the market is active and you must sell, stay on the market and pay special attention to pricing your home for current market conditions.

Lastly, with reduced inventories and motivated buyers, you will have all the area Brokers on your team ... you may find that you actually have more showings than you would if you marketed your home during a busier time of the year! And, if you do get a contract, you can usually arrange for the terms of the sale to suit your needs. If moving during the holidays isn't an option, negotiate the closing and possession dates of your choice. Most people can close 30 to 60 days after a contract is written so there's generally plenty of time.

For more information on holiday sales, please feel free to give me a call. I'd love the opportunity to be of service to you!

* * * Kelli Lanphere - Selling Denver's Top Neighborhoods Since 1984 * * *

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