The Pros & Cons Of Home Selling During The Holidays

One of the great debates in real estate concerns the prospect of keeping a house on the market during the holiday season. Some argue that the time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve is busy enough without the worry of buying a home, while proponents like the prospects since those shopping are generally more serious about buying.

A downside for the seller is that the hectic time of year makes it harder to get your home ready at the drop of a hat if a call comes in. People are busy making food, wrapping presents and preparing for a houseful of guests. However, your house will also be decorated with beautiful lights and decorations and will create a festive elegance to a home that will attract buyers.

Some agents believe that keeping your house on the market will be appealing to a much smaller inventory of buyers who have very specific needs that your home might not match. Others counter that less inventory over the holidays means less competition and since more people have vacations this time of year, they actually have more time to search for their ideal home.

The holidays can also provide a breather for homes that have been on the market awhile, as some use the time to remove property from the market in favor of a fresh start in January. However, you risk losing the buyer who may have been looking in December to capture tax benefits that many consider with their need to buy a home.

Another factor to consider is that transferees generally will be buying over the holidays in order to settle in and be ready to report for their new position after the first of the year.

Currently there are only 136 single family homes for sale in Lakewood. And so far this year, we have sold 322 homes.  That’s already more than the total number of sales for all of 2011! While every seller’s situation is different, this may be the perfect holiday season to be on the market. Check out the local inventory and activity at www.HomeValuesInLakewood.Info.

What’s the best solution? Of course it’s up to individual homeowners and their respective circumstances. Prospective sellers should discuss their holiday prospects in detail with their agent. Working together, they can make holiday wishes come true.

Chris Bergin is a licensed real estate agent with Prudential Lucien Realty in Lakewood and can be reached at Chris@ChrisBergin.com.

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Volume 8, Issue 22, Posted 1:55 PM, 11.01.2012