We have a lot of potential clients that wait to list their home until after the holidays are over for fear that there won’t be enough interest this time of year. While you may see a drop in listings and prices and even some sources stating that our real estate market is “softening” as real estate professionals in Central Oregon, we see this “softening” every year as the holidays roll in. Seller’s are anxious to sell before the snow starts falling so they drop the listing price, some don’t want to juggle family visiting for the holidays and showings all while trying to keep their home in the most perfect and showable condition. So while some believe our Central Oregon Market is softening, we still have plenty of buyers looking for a home, and investment property or a second vacation home!
We’ve put together the following list of tips for your home if you are thinking of listing your property during these memorable holiday times:
Deck The Halls Don’t be afraid to decorate. Most of our homes look their best during the holiday season. We take extra care to make sure our decorations are hung with care, we begin our holiday baking and the cheer is easily passed along. While decorating is a wonderful idea if your home is listed remember to not go overboard on the decorations. Keep the big bulky items stored away, don’t add large distractions that will take away from buyers looking at how they may arrange their own personal furnishings and remember to keep your home depersonalized as much as possible to avoid those distractions.
Price it to Sell No matter what time of year it is make sure you are pricing your home to sell. Homes that are priced lower than the market make buyers feel cheery and will receive more offers in less amount of time than homes that are price on the higher end of the market. As real estate professionals we tend to advise clients to price their home in the price range it will easily get the desired attention rather than making price reductions and increasing the amount of time your home is on the market. It’s always best to put yourself in the buyer’s shoes and carefully examine the current market prices for your home.
Keep it Cozy! We all know that the Central Oregon temperatures can be extreme, when preparing your home for showings or open houses make sure your home is warm and inviting. The longer a potential buyer stays in the home appreciating all your improvements the better the chances of them placing an offer on your home! Don’t forget some of the great welcoming (subtle) scents like some fresh baked cookies!