Should You List During the Holidays, or Wait Until Spring?

A lot of sellers take it as a given that you don’t put a house on the market between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. The thinking goes that everyone is busy, nobody wants to move in December, and spring is when the buyers come out.

There’s some truth in that, but it isn’t the whole picture. The honest answer is that the holidays can be a very good time to sell, depending on your timeline, your home, and what’s happening in your specific market.

Why the holidays can work in your favor

Less competition. Many sellers wait for spring, so fewer homes are usually on the market this time of year. When buyers have fewer choices, your home gets more of their attention.

Buyers who are looking are serious. People rarely spend a December weekend looking at homes just for fun. The buyers out now often have a reason to move soon, like a job transfer, a lease that’s ending, or a home of their own that has already sold.

Relocation buyers arrive early in the year. January is one of the busiest times for job relocations. Many companies time employee moves around the start of the year, so transferees are often looking for a home in December and January, right when fewer homes are on the market.

A head start on the year. If you’re under contract in December, you can be settled into your next home while other sellers are just getting ready to list.

What’s harder about a holiday listing

Fewer buyers overall. Less competition cuts both ways. There are usually fewer buyers in the market too, so it can take longer to find the right one.

Busy calendars. Showings have to fit around travel, parties, and houseguests, for you and for buyers.

Shorter days. It gets dark early, so your home needs to look good in the evening, inside and out.

Slower offices. Lenders, title companies, and other offices often close early or take time off around the holidays, which can affect how quickly you can close.

What waiting for spring really means

Spring does bring more buyers. It also brings more sellers, and every one of them is competing for the same attention. A home that would have stood out in December can be one of many in April.

No one can promise that waiting will get you a better result. Spring is a good season, but it isn’t a guarantee, and your plans may not want to wait that long.

How to decide for your own home

The right answer depends less on the calendar and more on three things you can check yourself.

Your timeline. If you need to be moved by a certain date, work backward from it. A home that sells in December can close in January or February. Waiting until spring to list may push your move into summer.

Your home’s readiness. If your home is ready to show now, you don’t need to wait for warm weather. If it needs repairs or updates, the next few months may be better spent getting it ready for a spring listing.

Your specific market. Look at the homes for sale in your own area right now on any of the major home search sites. How many are there? How long have they been on the market? A small number of listings that sell quickly tells a very different story than a long list of homes that have been sitting for months.

If you decide to list now

A holiday listing just takes a little extra planning.

• Take photos before you decorate, or keep decorations simple so the photos still look right in January.
• Keep decorating light. A wreath and a few touches feel warm. A room full of decorations makes it hard for buyers to picture the space.
• Light it up. Turn on lamps and exterior lights for evening showings, and keep walkways clear.
• Stay flexible. Block out times when you’re traveling or hosting, and make it easy for buyers to see the home the rest of the time.
• Plan your closing date carefully. Ask early about holiday closures at the lender and title company so there are no surprises.

The holidays aren’t the right time for every seller, but they’re not the dead season many people think.

If you’re thinking about selling, I’m happy to help you weigh the timing.