Selling Your Home During the Holidays

Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to have success selling a home in the Fargo - Moorhead metro area during the cold months. Unfortunately, several major holidays occur during this time of year; that's a downside for sellers who enjoy entertaining. Here are a few ways that you can attract the right buyers and still enjoy the holiday season.

--------------- KIMBERLY VAN HAL | Good to Know® ---------------

Don’t Overdo It

If you’re a person who enjoys filling the home with holiday decorations, you’re going to have to tone it down this year. That doesn’t mean you can’t decorate at all, but keep in mind that buyers might have a hard time imagining themselves in your living space if it’s jam-packed with mementos and holiday cheer. A few tasteful decorations around your home can still leave you with that bubbly feeling and won’t make your buyers uncomfortable.

No matter what time of the year you put your home on the market, strong smells and personal items are a no-no. Remove family photos and try to refrain from lighting a holiday spice scented candle in every room before showings and open houses.

It’s also worth noting that not every buyer is going to celebrate the same holidays as you do. While you might not see the point in changing the way you enjoy the season for someone else, you have to remember that your main goal is to get your home sold. Don’t do anything to jeopardize that.

Forgo Hosting Duties

You never know if the right buyer is going to only be available to look at your home during the time you’ve planned a holiday party. You can take the risk of making the property unavailable, but maybe this is the year to team up with a friend or family member and help them host this year’s party at their home.

Stay Flexible

After a long day, the last thing you probably want to do is bundle up and wait in the cold while someone comes to look at your home. It’s important to remember that buyers looking during the colder months are probably only looking at homes that they’d seriously considering buying. (After all, they have to get bundled up too!) Be open showings, even if you’d rather stay home.

Don’t Neglect Your Exterior

The ice and snow of a North Dakota winter can create potentially dangerous situations if walkways and sidewalks aren't maintained. You should make an effort to keep them clean, especially if a showing or an open house is scheduled. Nothing will turn a buyer off of your home more than an ice skating rink for a walkway and a broken ankle as a souvenir of the visit.

If you keep your home clean and safe, stay flexible, and don’t go nuts with decorations, selling your home during the holidays is no different than selling your home during any other time of the year. As long as it’s in good condition and priced correctly, you should have no trouble selling in the current Fargo, Moorhead, and West Fargo markets.

--------------- KIMBERLY VAN HAL | Good to Know® ---------------

Kimberly is a residential agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Premier Properties.

Since 1987, she's helped home buyers and sellers in the Fargo-Moorhead metro area achieve their real estate goals.

701.306.9972 | kim@bhhspreproperties.com | fmkim.com