Tis the Season for Savvy Sellers!
Some sellers seem to think having their homes on the market during the holidays is a waste of time, but we see opportunities for home sales this time of year. If you’re ready to sell, here are five “smart move” reasons to consider listing now:
1) Home buyers are typically more motivated to close. Why? Holiday season buyers are often shopping with a purpose; they want to be settled into their new places for the New Year. They may be getting divorced, having triplets, or perhaps transferring to new jobs in 2017. They could be investors with tax deadlines, or people within the corporate, healthcare, or academic worlds wherein time is of the essence. In the surrounding Tampa area market, current buyers may also be military personnel or snowbirds. The important thing is to make sure your agent knows how to market to find these types of house-hunters, and then follow his or her suggestions for pricing and preparing your home. Feel free to contact us anytime with questions about strategies we’ve seen bring success for sellers.
2) Holiday décor can make your home show very well. Everything seems more beautiful during the holidays and your home should be, too. Make sure your home’s holiday décor is tasteful and enhances the natural features of your home. Don’t clutter spaces with big displays or compete with the neighbors for the best flashing light show. Instead, keep it simple and consistent so that your holiday decor can showcase that custom staircase, beautiful mantle, or spacious foyer.
3) Fewer competing sellers may mean more buyer traffic for your house. This year, the inventory of available homes is very low, translating into less competition among sellers. It also may mean more competition among buyers and possibly a higher price or faster sale for your home. To stay competitive for the area and your home’s key features, monitor and adjust your price as needed. When done right, a holiday home sale can be a quick and simple process for all parties involved.
4) Sellers always have control of showing times. Keep in mind that while you can certainly determine if and when your home is shown, the folks who are using their holiday time to shop for homes are usually very serious buyers. A little inconvenience on your part may result in the sale you wanted, so it’s smart to be as accommodating as possible for showings.Enjoying a gingerbread latte at a local coffee shop or getting some holiday shopping done is a great way to pass the time while home buyers browse.
5) Remember there are tax benefits for closing before December 31st. Florida buyers who want to take advantage of the money-saving Homestead Exemption for 2017 must own and occupy their properties as their primary residences by December 31, 2016. If your home is well-priced, buyers will find your listing and you just may have a closing before New Year’s Eve.
Timely incentives, less competition, and seasonal décor can make the buyer feel at home for the holidays. It’s our pleasure to help Florida residents like you buy and sell homes any time of year, but we especially enjoy the buying and selling process during the holiday season. Call Dick and Karla Nielsen today at 813-294-5786 for helpful information and real estate advice.
