Selling Your Home Over The Holidays, Part Two

Last week we discussed the pros and cons of listing your home before the holidays. Does it make any sense? Will you have any showings, or are you just going to be inconvenienced? To check out that column, go to CoDreamHouse.com and follow the link for “News.”

Today let’s talk about whether or not you should take your home off the market for the holidays if it’s listed right now. Here, it makes sense to reference last week’s column. Recall that all-important barometer question we pondered: Do you need to sell your home quickly? If the answer is yes, then the story’s over. Keep your home listed right through the holiday season. At least you’ll have a shot at some showings, and with less competition on the market you may capture the right buyer at the right time.

But let’s consider, now, the other side of the coin. If you aren’t in a hurry to sell your home and you don’t want to be bothered with showings over the holidays, then by all means take it off the market. I’d suggest pulling it from December 15th through January 15th. Just relax and enjoy the season with family and friends, and forget the hassle of cleaning up the house or shuffling everyone out the door for a showing.

A big bonus for keeping your listing off the market for at least 30 days: When you put it back in the MLS it’ll show up as a new listing and maybe generate interest all over again. Take this break as an opportunity to strategize with your agent about a new marketing plan to implement when the home comes back on the market January 15th. In some cases, all you need is a break from the process and a jumpstart with a fresh approach.