Pinetop White Mountain Blog

Happy Black Friday or the Day after "Oh....I ate way too much" day!

Well, the first big day of the Holiday Season is behind us, and we are all busily preparing for the Holiday Parties and Festivities that surround the most happy time of the year.  However, if you are selling your home you may think, "What's the Point?", no one buys houses during the Holidays. 

You couldn't be more mistaken in that belief.  Here are some reasons why.

1)  Long vacations and breaks for long weekends often mean more time for potential buyers to look at homes.  I had a couple calls on Thanksgiving Day from buyers who were out driving around looking at homes.  It is not at all unusual to get calls from people driving around looking at homes during the Holidays.   

2)  Buyers looking during the winter months & the Holidays, are usually serious buyers.  They may want to capitalize on income tax deductions for Mortgage Loan Fees, Interest Expense, & prorated Property Taxes before years end. 

3) They may be looking because they are going to transfer in after the first of the year.  Did you know that typically Corporate Transfers occur in the month of January?  These buyers are going to be serious because they need a place to live.  They may even be willing to pay a better price than your typical seasonal buyer who may just be looking for a "deal" and is not highly motivated.

4)  During cold weather people typically stay in more.  Most home searches start online these days.  My expertise in exposing your home to the largest online audience increases your chance of finding the right buyer during these cold months.         

5) Many sellers have the mistaken belief that they aren't going to sell during the Holidays so they take their homes off the market.  That means less competition for your home and your odds of selling actually go UP this time of year.  Less competition means more exposure to those buyers when they are conducting those online searches.   

6)   Festive Lights and Holiday Decorations make a house feel more like a "HOME".  That cozy feeling when you come in out of the cold is much more pronounced when a home is all decked out in bright holiday lights and colorful accents.

7)  Decreased demand on Lenders, Appraisers, Home Inspectors, and other related industries may help your closing process go smoother and possibly quicker.

The bottom line is that if your home isn't available during this time of year, you may miss the opportunity for YOUR perfect buyer to find your home.  By selling now, you will be able to move on yourself and perhaps find another seller who had the foresight to see that the Holidays and the Winter Months were the perfect time to sell.

Thanks for reading, until next time...........!

SANDRA PAULOW, ASSOCIATE BROKER, GRI, SFR, REALTOR®

Your High Country Connection for Real Estate in the White Mountains of Arizona.