Pre-Christmas/New Year Sales – Dos & Don’ts
Looking for a pre-Christmas sale?
Here are some important dos (and don’ts) to keep in mind as you put your property on the market.
DO be reserved with your decorations
Resist the urge to decorate with no expense spared – and instead add some tasteful seasonal touches which make your property feel homely and welcoming. Wreaths, candles, centrepieces and floral displays can work wonders and create an attractive, pleasant ambience throughout your home. Avoid huge trees, tinsel, full-scale reindeer and dancing Santa decorations at all costs!
DO be patient
Patience is key – whether you put your home on the market on the 15th November or the 5th December. Work closely with your real estate agent to set expectations and learn more about the market and what you can do to speed things up and increase your chance of a sale. You will likely get fewer viewings, but those who do come to see your home will tend to be genuinely interested and looking to buy.
DO be prepared and plan ahead
Before you put your property on the market ask yourself what needs to be done and when. When will you need to find a place to move to, if you haven’t already? How soon can you book a removals company? How soon do you need to give your phone and electricity company notice? How flexible can you be with viewings? Will you need extra childcare? Plan for every eventuality to minimise stress.
DON’T forget the paperwork
Paperwork is one of life’s necessary evils – but it’s incredibly important when it comes to selling property. Make sure you have all the relevant paperwork required such as property blueprints and plans, energy performance details, lists of fittings and fixtures, planning consents etc. Having all the paperwork ready will help your agent massively – as they’ll have everything at their fingertips should buyers request further details. And when the sale goes through, you won’t need to scramble to find the legal documents necessary to complete.
DON’T put up a property before it’s ready
If your property needs work doing and you realistically can wait until after the Christmas period, then sit it out. Pushing a sale through before a specified date when your property isn’t quite ready (especially during the festive season) could mean that you’ll have to take a significantly reduced amount compared with selling within a standard timeframe. If you can, it’s better to make necessary repairs as cost-effectively as you can, as often they can add thousands of dollars to the overall asking price.
