By Mary Ellen Rotondo
Every fall, sellers in Alexandria ask me the same question: Should we list now or wait until January? The honest answer is that it depends on your goals, but the holidays are far from a dead zone in the Washington area.
The case for listing now: Inventory thins out dramatically between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, because many sellers simply pull their homes off the market. Less competition means your listing stands out, and the buyers who are touring in December are serious.
Nobody spends a chilly Saturday in the middle of the holiday season touring houses for fun. In our area, many of those buyers are relocating for government, military or contractor positions that start in January, and they need to close on a timeline.
The case for waiting: If your home needs repairs, fresh paint or a deep declutter, rushing to market in a hectic month can backfire. Listing photos taken under bare trees and gray skies don’t flatter every property. Your own calendar matters, too: Hosting family while keeping a house show-ready is exhausting. Waiting until mid-January to early February lets you list just as buyer activity starts climbing, ahead of the spring rush.
If your home is ready and you’re motivated, list before the holidays. You’ll face fewer competitors and more committed buyers. If it isn’t ready, use the holidays to prepare and launch in late January, fully polished.
How to decorate for the holidays while your home is on the market
If you do list during the holiday season, you don’t have to live like a Grinch. But remember: Once your home is for sale, it’s no longer just your home. It’s a product, and buyers come from every background.
Alexandria is a wonderfully diverse community. The family touring your living room may celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali, Kwanzaa, Lunar New Year or nothing at all. Your goal is for every one of them to picture their own life there.
Think seasonal, not religious. Winter greenery, a simple wreath on the door, white candles, pinecones and a bowl of clementines say “warm and welcoming” to everyone. Nativity scenes, menorahs and other faith-specific displays are meaningful, but while you’re selling, consider enjoying them in a private room or setting them aside until after closing.
Keep it light outside. A few strands of warm white lights along the roofline or porch rail add evening curb appeal. Inflatable characters, flashing multicolor displays, synchronized music and lawn-filling light shows do the opposite. They hide your home’s architecture, and on our historic streets they can look out of place.
Edit the tree. One modest tree is fine. Place it where it doesn’t block a window, fireplace or traffic flow, and limit the number of wrapped gifts underneath. A pile of wrapped packages makes a room feel cramped and can signal valuables to strangers.
Fight holiday clutter. Cards taped to doorways, extra throws, stacked boxes and tins of cookies on every counter shrink a space fast. Buyers need to see square footage, storage and clean surfaces.
Watch the photos. If your listing photos show decorations, buyers in February will know your home has been sitting. Photograph before decorating, or refresh the photos in January.
Holiday touches make your home feel inviting and loved, which is exactly what buyers want to feel. Just remember, a little restraint goes a long way.
The writer is a Compass Realtor licensed in Washington, D.C., and Virginia.
The post Real Talk: How to list your home around the holidays appeared first on Alexandria Times.
