Advertising Your Home During the Christmas Period

Christmas can actually be a good time of the year to put your home on the market for sale or rent!

Everyone must be too busy working out their Christmas plans to think about buying or renting a property at this time of year - right? Well not necessarily.

Despite what some might think, Christmas can be a great time of year to sell your property according to these experts.

Buyers agent Zaki Ameer of Dream Design Property said buying mid-festive season might seem unusual but doing so meant you could avoid the most congested and competitive times of the property market.

“Astute buyers go against the grain and bag a bargain when no one is looking and distracted by the festive season,’’ he said.

He said sellers were often more motivated to get the deal finalised and see the money in their bank accounts.

Buyers and sellers can be more motivated around Christmas time, but it’s probably a good idea not to host all the relatives at your house - too much cleaning up.

“It’s no secret the property market slows down over the festive season. However, the market does not shut up shop completely. In fact, it never comes to a halt.’’

Many sellers are keen to tie up loose ends before the year ends and finally selling their home can be one of those.

Whilst everyone is looking to wind down and get in the holiday spirit at this time of year, there are two groups of people not doing that - owners with their homes up for sale/rent, and those desperate to find a home before the new year commences!

Christmas could be a good time of year to be on the market, as there is genuine urgency amoung home owners, so it's a great time to buy or rent, and ironically there is exhaustion and hunger from buyers and renters desperate to find a home.

Property expert, Andrew Winter has some important dos and don’ts to keep in mind if you do decide to sell at this time of year.

He has sold a home on Christmas Eve before, so it can happen.

• Don’t allow your home to be photographed complete with Christmas decorations in view, it dates the listing immediately.
• Don’t start your marketing campaign the week or two before the big day; you may as well wait until first week or two of the New Year. Unless demand is very high and stock very low, you may just want to ignore this point and break the mould before half the suburb lists in the New Year.
• Don’t spend Christmas and the holidays entertaining at your home.
• Do be prepared for a sale, if additional facts and figures are needed by a buyer, get it in place well in advance and check if your lawyer is around over the holidays.
• Do understand that selling at this time of the year is very market dependent.