Listing your home during the holidays

written by JENNIFER BLAKE

REALTOR, LICENSED IN MD. AND PA. SULLIVAN SELECT LLC

The holidays (November through January) are not necessarily the best time to list; however, sometimes it cannot be avoided. There are some advantages to listing during this time – mainly, there might not be a lot of competition. If your house is show-ready and priced right, you might find this to be a lucrative time to list. There are several tips you should follow to make your sale a success. • First, find an agent who will list and market your home well. That would include professional pictures, as well as advice for staging, pricing correctly and prepping your home for sale. Also, you need an agent who won’t bail on you over the holidays and will be available to work with other agents to get your home sold. • It starts getting cold this time of year. Prepare your home to be cozy, warm and inviting to buyers. If you like to decorate for the holidays, feel free to, but don't go overboard. Festive is great, but less is more. Too many decorations could make the rooms appear smaller or can be a distraction. Play soft classical or holiday music, and bake and offer cookies right before the showing to fill your home with a fantastic scent. When you encourage buyers to spend more time in your home, you also give them more time to admire its best features. • Price your home right. This step takes an agent with experience. Rather than gradually making small price reductions,

many real estate agents advise sellers to price their homes competitively before placing them on the market. • Focus on curb appeal. Because it’s autumn and winter is near, the trees start to lose their leaves, so maintaining the exterior of your home becomes even more important. Bare trees will reveal any exterior imperfections.

Make sure your gutters are clean, and free of leaves and debris. Clear your walkway when it snows or becomes covered with fallen, scattered leaves. • Create a welcoming outdoor space that will appeal to your buyers and guests. • Since everyone is busy during the holidays, your online pictures are the best way to market your home. Make sure your agent uses a professional photographer. Great photos will motivate potential buyers to set up a showing; bad pictures might discourage that. A video of your home is a good option to appeal to buyers, as well. • Open houses during the holidays can be a fun and festive way to kick off your listing. Though not as common as in the past, an open house with a little holiday music, some treats and tasteful decor could be a real selling point for buyers.

During this time, don't forget to make time to enjoy such a joyous season. You only have one life to live. Even though it might be stressful, it’s still time that you have been given. Make the most of it! — Places

For more information, contact Jennifer Blake, Sullivan Select LLC, 13146 Pennsylvania Ave., Hagerstown. Office phone: 301-745-5500 | Cell: 410-746-4420