The Dos and Don’ts of Selling at Christmas

Have you been put off by what people say about selling at Christmas? It is considered by some to be a difficult time to sell, but that doesn’t mean that buyers aren’t out there. Traditionally, November and December are a little quieter, but this also means that those who are buying at Christmas tend to be serious! Research has shown that a new home is on many people’s lists to Santa, making the Christmas and New Year period an extremely busy time for property portals such as Rightmove and Zoopla. Each year, Rightmove announce their statistics of website visits, which continue to break records year on year, with over 30 million visitors on Boxing Day alone!

To secure a sale at this time of year there are several things that you need to consider, from festive decorations to the tonnes of toys that will no doubt fill your home! Here are some tips to make sure you’re helping a sale rather than hindering it.

Do decorate your home in line with the style of the property. Choosing decorations that complement the style of your property means that they can become a part of your décor enhancing your home’s features. For modern homes or apartments you could choose a few contemporary decorations, or for traditional properties stick to classic styles.

Don’t go over the top with decorations. This might be an obvious tip, but if you love to decorate your home at Christmas you may need to think about reining it in, just while your house is on the market. You want to show off your home’s features, not hide them; your aim is to allow potential buyers to envisage themselves living in your home, rather than distracting them will too many decorations.

Do try to keep decorations to a minimum number of rooms. To ensure you achieve a minimal yet stylish look you should consider only decorating the main living areas. This way, your home can still feel festive, whilst also letting potential buyers really get a feel for how they can make your house their home.

Don’t get a Christmas tree that’s too big for your home. Bigger is not always better, especially when it comes to Christmas trees. You wouldn’t place oversized furniture, a bed, for example, in other rooms when you’re trying to sell, so be mindful of how your tree could look to potential buyers.

Do try to hide away clutter, including any guests’ belongings and bags of presents. Guests who might be staying have bags that need to be tidied away, and if you haven’t delivered your presents to friends and family try to find a place to keep them hidden away during viewings

Don’t opt for exterior decorations. First impressions are everything, and although a simple wreath or tree lights are acceptable, anything bigger may put off potential buyers before they’ve entered your home. Keep Rudolph and Santa away, just for this year, and consider how your home looks from the outside before potential buyers arrive.

Do wait until your property is photographed to go on the market to put up your decorations. If possible, we recommend that you allow our experienced team take photographs of your home before you put up your Christmas decorations. This will attract more buyers and will enable them to see past your decorations when they come for a viewing.

Putting your home on the market now means that you can try to attract those who are serious about buying, and are thus still looking in the lead up to Christmas, as well as the millions of buyers who start their search in the new year. If you are still thinking of selling your home in North London and have some questions about the current market in your area, talk to our team of experts in your local branch.