5 Tips for Selling Your Home During the Holidays

While many people pull their homes off the market during the holidays or wait until the season has passed to put their home on the market, there are a number of benefits that go hand in hand with selling during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. Your trusted real estate agent in Lake Ozark, Missouri is here to provide some tips to make selling during the holidays easier. If you are in the market to sell your home at the Lake of the Ozarks, don’t wait until the holiday season has passed!

1. Get in the Holiday Spirit

Many homeowners will refrain from decorating for the holidays, when their home is for sale. This method may work, but adding a little holiday cheer to your home can appeal to potential buyers on the market. Now I’m not suggesting you go Clark Griswold style when decorating, but tastefully incorporating Thanksgiving or Christmas décor is acceptable during the holiday season, even if your home is on the market. This helps to create a cozy and cheerful atmosphere for those looking to purchase your home.

2. Attract Motivated Buyers

If a buyer is actively looking during the holiday season, they are serious about purchasing a home. People are typically busy during the months of November & December, preparing for and traveling to and from holiday gatherings. Keep in mind that anyone looking at homes is usually motivated to buy.

3. Keep it Cozy

Although it is not cold yet, the temperature in the area will be dropping soon. Be sure to turn up the heat for an inviting feel inside your home. Give buyers a place to escape the cold air, when they look at your space. If buyers are nice and warm inside your home, they will feel welcomed and relaxed, allowing them to appreciate your home.

4. Think Curb Appeal

As always, remember to spruce up your curb appeal when your home is on the market. Often times, potential buyers will drive by a home before scheduling a showing of the property. The view from the road may be what sways a buyer to look at your home or not. Keep up with your leaf removal regimen when selling your home. You want to show buyers that you take care of your home and maintain it well. If you wish, you can also add Christmas lights to your curb appeal. Line your roof and/or porch area with lights to entice potential buyers this holiday season.

5. Be Flexible

While the holiday season keeps many of us busy, try to be flexible when potential buyers want to look at your home. Keep in mind that buyers may have some time off work around the holidays, which allows them to spend time searching for a home.

With these selling tips in mind, you can prepare your home for potential buyers this holiday season. There are typically less homes on the market during the holiday season, this means less competition for your house. Take advantage of the market conditions and up your chances to sell your home at the Lake of the Ozarks during the holidays. Give me a call at (573) 280-0484 if you want to put your home on the market before the holiday season arrives.

Susan Spica
Professional REALTOR®

BerkShire Hathaway HomeServices
101 Crossings West, Ste. 202
Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Office: (573) 365-6868
Susan's Cell: (573) 280-0484

Successful Staging Secrets

It doesn't matter whether you're selling a condo at the Lake of the Ozarks or an upscale luxury home. No matter what type of property you are selling, there is one key factor that will determine how quickly your property sells: home staging. (Asking price is also incredibly important, but that's a topic for another day.) 

An Overview Of Home Staging

Home staging refers to the process of "staging" your home so that it appeals to the widest range of potential buyers. Think of your home as a stage in a live theatre; in order to have a good show, you have to create a believable environment that captures the audience's attention. Home staging works the same way. If you want to capture your buyers' attention, you have to create an environment that draws them in.

Home Staging Secrets

In my years as real estate agent at the Lake of the Ozarks, I have identified several strategies to make your staging efforts more successful. Before listing your home, I strongly encourage you to add these items to your to-do list. You'll be glad you did!

1. Deep Clean
Clean homes tend to sell quickly, but dirty ones almost never do. Before listing your home, take time to deep clean your house like never before. In addition to the standard sweeping/mopping/vacuuming routine, you'll want to pay close attention to the little details. Scrub the smudges off of the baseboards and light switches, for example, and get rid of any dirt or dead insects that may have collected in your windowsills, door frames, or overhead lights. Putting in this extra work will pay off big-time in the long run.

2. Pay Attention To Curb Appeal
Most potential buyers will drive past the front of your home before they ever contact a REALTOR® to schedule a showing. You don't want to lose out on a potential sale simply because the buyers took one look at the front of your home and decided they were no longer interested! Keep your yard raked free of leaves and other debris, and be sure your sidewalks and driveway clear of any ice or snow. As the weather warms up, be sure to keep fresh flowers and greenery out front. You may also want to consider re-staining your front porch and/or repainting your front door.

3. Declutter
When it come to selling your house at the Lake of the Ozarks, getting rid of clutter is non-negotiable. Clear your kitchen counters of everything except appliances (coffee maker, toaster, etc) and perhaps a strategic vase of fresh flowers. Remove half of all your clothes and shoes from your closets to make them seem bigger. Even if you have great square footage, your home will feel cramped and small if it's buried in clutter. Take this opportunity to purge all the items you no longer need. (Added bonus: getting rid of all your unnecessary belongings now will mean you have fewer items to move when the time comes!)

4. Go Neutral
In the years you have lived in your home, you will have doubtless spent many hours decorating it to match your unique style and tastes. When you're trying to sell, however, it's best to remove all personal touches. Take down your family photos and remove all spiritual or political knickknacks. If you have to repaint, use light colors that will blend with anything. Creating a neutral environment will allow more buyers to feel at home in the space and more easily imagine the home as theirs.

I Can Help You Sell Your Home!

If you are ready to sell your Lake of the Ozarks home or are simply looking for more information about the process, I would love to talk to you. I have experience with all types of properties and an inside knowledge of the Lake Area that can set your sale up for success. Visit my website to learn more, or call me directly at 573-280-0484. I look forward to talking with you!

Susan Spica
Professional REALTOR®

BerkShire Hathaway HomeServices
101 Crossings West, Ste. 202
Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Office: (573) 365-6868
Susan's Cell: (573) 280-0484