This time of year might be considered a quiet period for the real estate industry, but the holidays are actually a fantastic time to showcase your listing’s special features.
Warm weather or cold, homes dressed for the holidays can look beautiful, and that can help prospective buyers see themselves in a wonderful new home.
Here are a few ideas for making the most of the holiday season.
1. Embrace curb appeal
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Candles in the windows and a spot light on a front door wreath will make the humblest of homes look special. Just be sure the fall leaves have been blown away.
2. Stage a beautiful holiday table
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Nothing makes a house feel more like home than imagining a festive meal. Ask your seller to break out the holiday china and set a table worthy of Martha Stewart. Greens, candles and sparkling glassware will call buyers to imagine their own holiday parties.
If the home is vacant, bring in a card table with a festive table cloth and purchase some handsome paper china and napkins. No food necessary.
3. Snap a few new photos
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Consider splurging on a twilight photo of the festive but tasteful exterior (no blow-up Santa, please) and the holiday table. The images make a great gift for your seller and can be printed on postcards to market the home (and you). Ask your seller to send to their holiday card list!
4. Shoot a social media video walk thru of the home
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Start with the festive exterior and the home dressed for the holidays. Make it fun, placing an inviting assortment of cookies on the counter and offering to email the recipes to all who comment or request information.
5. Don’t shy away from open houses
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The line between holiday party and open house is fuzzier than you might imagine. Offer hot mulled cider, some freshly baked cookies or maybe some small goody bags for children, and you’ll quickly have a gathering that the community is eager to attend. Once again, offer to send that favorite cookie recipe.
6. Be sure that the home is actually available to show
With a limited amount of competitive homes for sale during these holiday months, winter buyers are some of the most serious buyers. Keep the clutter and demands on their time to a minimum, and be sure that the home continues to look neat and spacious as the hectic holidays approach.
With a little extra planning and perhaps a bit more focus on festive presentation, the holiday season can be a fruitful one in real estate. Be thoughtful about who you target and when, and be sure the presentation is seamless (but warm). You might be surprised by the amount of engagement you see.
Happy holidays!
Mary Ann Hebert is a broker-partner at BHGRE Bannon & Hebert. Follow her on Facebook or Twitter.
