Things to consider when selling your home over Christmas
Estimated read time: 3 Minutes
During the festive season, there are mixed opinions about whether it’s a good idea to put your home on the market.
We explore some of the possible pros and cons of selling your home over Christmas, so you can think about what you should keep in mind if you do decide to put your house on the market at this time of the year.
The possible advantages
’Tis the season to be jolly, and over the Christmas break people tend to be more relaxed. They have more time to have a leisurely look through your home and appreciate its charms. And as there are fewer properties on the market, buyers won’t be in a rush to see the next open house.
As the New Year approaches, people tend to think about what they want to achieve in the coming year. Perhaps they want to move into a bigger home or change suburbs so they're in the right school catchment area. Some may even have missed out on their dream home in the Spring selling season and are keen to get into their new home as soon as possible, providing you with a potential negotiation point when it comes time to talk turkey.
The potential disadvantages
Christmas is also a popular time for families to jump in the car and take a big road trip or visit family, so there may be fewer potential buyers for your home. There are also several real estate agents who shut down or run on skeleton staff during the holidays, so you’ll need to do your homework when selecting an agent to sell your property. As fewer people choose to sell during this time, perhaps consider your own motives. If a potential buyer senses you are overly keen to get the sale, they may be suspicious of your property or – worse still – make a low offer. It’s important that your home and your agent don’t give off the wrong impression.
The Festive Touch
As buyers look through homes, they like to imagine themselves living there, so without creating clutter here are some simple but classy DIY Christmas decorations you could add to your home to broaden its appeal. While some people suggest baking bread to give your home a lovely aroma, perhaps you can replace this with the festive scent of gingerbread biscuits.
Tips to help sell your home over Christmas
Choosing the right time to put your home on the market can feel a bit like playing Russian roulette, but if you decide that the holiday period works best for you then use these extra tips could help your chances of a good sale price.
1. Get onto those odd jobs and repairs
2. De-clutter
3. Get cleaning
4. Make a grand entrance
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Contributor | Sarah Pikardt, General Manager, Marketing and Brand
Sarah joined Pepper Money in 2011 and was appointed General Manager, Marketing and Brand in 2021. She leads the marketing function and strategic development of the brand in Australia and New Zealand, with a focus on improving customer experience. Read more.
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