Selling Property Over Christmas

Is it a good idea to sell your property over Christmas?

Selling Property Over Christmas

The silly season may have you feeling cheerful, but is it really a good time to sell your property?

If you’re preparing to sell your home, you may wonder when the right time to sell is.  Christmas is a time that comes up often, with varied and mixed views.

Naturally there are both pros and cons to selling your property over the holidays, which are worth taking into account.

Should you decide to put your home on the market over the holidays, you’ll want to be sure that you engage a real estate agent who is not also on holiday during this time. You could contact us to discuss your pending sale and an appropriate marketing plan.

Disadvantages of Selling over Christmas

An obvious disadvantage of selling your property over the Christmas period is that it’s a time when many people go away, so there could be fewer buyers around to see your property.  Also, as mentioned above, it may also be more difficult to find an agent to work with, because some agents also take time off to spend with their families as well!  Be sure that you have all the resources you need to sell during this time period.

Another factor to consider is what impression will be made on buyers by going on the market over the Christmas. Some buyers may be slightly suspicious, as to why you are so keen to sell your property during this time rather than spending time with your family. They may get the impression that you are desperate to sell because there is something wrong with the property, or to satisfy a financial debt. If they believe you are desperate to sell quickly, this could lead to lower offers.

Ultimately, selling at the wrong time could lead to lower profits or prolonged negotiation as a result.

Advantages of Selling over Christmas

Despite the potential downsides, there are also positive aspects to selling over Christmas.  In fact, it could even be possible to achieve a better sale price during this time if you plan the right strategy.

During holiday season, the number of available houses for sale generally decreases. This reduces competition between sellers and instead increases the competition among buyers. It’s best to find an agent who will have knowledge about how the holidays could affect your chances of a fast, profitable sale. Contact us to discuss your strategy.

If your property is in an area that sees a higher level of competition between buyers during the holidays, this could lead to offers that are even higher than your original asking price.  Another advantage is that buyers who are looking for properties during the holidays are usually serious about purchasing something, and this could lead to a quick sale.
Most buyers looking at this time want to be able to move in before a new year begins, or before the new school year commences.

Christmas is also a naturally festive and joyful time. It falls during the first month of summer, which provides a bright, cheerful and sunny setting for the home. This combined with holiday cheer can make your home seem extra inviting. You could use some simple staging techniques to enhance this with basic Christmas decorating.

Make your House Festive

If you decide to stage your home with Christmas decorations, use them sparingly to avoid crossing over into tacky territory.  Sellers who have already prepared their home for sale will most likely have already moved clutter.  You won’t want to negate these efforts by replacing your old clutter with an overabundance of decorations!  It’s a good idea to strike the right balance between holiday spirit and a large, spacious property.

For example, rather than filling your living room with a large Christmas tree you could choose a tasteful table-top version instead. This will serve as a cheerful centerpiece, without overcrowding the room.  Rather than choosing garish banners, you can opt for the more natural evergreen garlands.
Instead of leaving all of your presents out and about, you can hide them somewhere else or group them into attractive arrangements of 3 or 5.

There are both pros and cons to selling over Christmas, which are worth exploring. If you decide that this is a good time for you, follow these basic tips and you’ll end up with cash to spare after the holidays!

Blocksidge & Ferguson Property Agents are here to help. Please let us know if you intend on selling over the Christmas Holidays.

Residential Sales                                                                   
Level 1
144 Adelaide Street
Brisbane QLD 4000
T: 07 3233 3999
F: 07 3229 5636
sales@blocksidge.com.au