Marketing Homes During the Holidays

If you didn’t catch the concept goes something like this: Many homeowners assume buyers are few and far between during the holidays, so they take their homes off the market.

“Why not?” says the seller. “We need to take a break anyway, go on vacation, and not think about this home selling stuff for a while.”

The logic is understandable but flawed.

While there may be fewer buyers pounding the pavement during the holidays, the ones who are tend to be higher quality. And Los Angeles attracts a large number of potential buyers from out of town during this time of year.

It takes a lot of dedication for buyers–local or international–to break away from family festivities to tour a property or check out an open house.

Think for a moment too about the emotions Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hanukkah bring up in people. Family, caring, joy, community, and giving are just a few. That’s a good buyer mindset to deal with, versus other times of year when folks are more frantic and stressed.

In my opinion, Encino is at its best during the holidays. Lights adorn houses and businesses and local residents have a certain glow about them. This is important for marketing the community along with the house.

You don’t have to forego or cancel your vacation plans. A good real estate agent works 24/7 for 365 days of the year. That agent will show your home, write offers, and take care of all of the details even while you’re out of town.

If you are planning on being home during the holidays, spruce up the house, set out potpourri, and take advantage of the opportunity to decorate the outside with elegant lights and other items that accentuate your property.

The holiday season is my favorite time of year. And from experience I can tell you that selling a home during this time is a special experience for everybody.