With the holidays nearly here it may tempting to put your home buying or selling activities on hold. Whether you are buying or selling in the Greater Baton Rouge area, it is easy to make the assumption that real estate transactions hardly fit into the busy seasonal plans. This isn’t necessarily true, and your real estate agent can show you how to make holiday home buying or selling work out just fine
Sellers:
You may be tempted to take you home off the market for a while, so you can enjoy the season without having to do quick clean ups for unexpected showings. Showing might also cut into gatherings you have planned. If you are preparing for a party and elbow deep in bread dough, that is the last time you want strangers dropping by.
The reality is your agent can schedule showings around your schedule and not authorize ones by other agents the day you are having your annual holiday open house.
This year, incentives for buyers (which include you if you planning to buy another home) are so great that there is reason to keep your home on the buyer’s radar. You have a real opportunity to sell the home more quickly than in the past months.
The only way selling might otherwise inconvenience you during the holidays is that you still need to keep the decorations modest. If home usually resembles Chevy Chase’s Christmas Vacation dwelling, dial things back a notch and go for a minimalist look inside and out so the beauty of your home shows through.
If you have a showing, your home will come off as warm and friendly if it smells of pine and bayberry and has a plate of cookies on the counter.
Buyers:
Just because it is the holidays doesn’t mean you can afford to put off your house shopping until after New Year’s. Especially at lower price points, homes are moving quickly. With the home buyer tax credits and low interest rates on your side, this can be your time to beat the rush most realtors expect in January.
It is likely more homes will come on the market after the holiday. With fewer other buyers out, the holidays are a great time to look at homes already on the market that may be a match for you. If you don’t fall in love with one, you can move on to the new offerings in January.
If you’ve have been transferred, your lease is up, your family is expanding – you may need to find a great home quickly, Since fewer people are competing for homes during this time of year, you will have more chance of having a reasonable bid accepted on a home you love.
As a buyer, there are a couple of holiday rules you need to follow. First, though are in a rush, the sellers may not always be able to make the house available on short notice. Give them a little slack as they may have had plans before you called for the showing. You will probably not be welcome on Christmas Day or 9 am December 26 or January 1. Second, remember to look past the holiday décor when viewing the home. That Christmas tree won’t always be in the living room or family room.
With holiday sales, Buyers can receive the wonderful gift of a Baton Rouge area house and sellers can unwrap the prized signed contract they have been waiting for.. Liven your holiday with a call to Sandy and her team. They can find you the perfect place to call home in the new year in Greater Baton Rouge area, including Baton Rouge, Prairieville, Gonzales, Denham Springs, Watson, Walker, Central, Greenwell Springs, Zachary, Baker, Port Allen, Brusly, Geismar, and St Amant. We can also you answer any questions you might have about the home buyer's tax credit - $8,000 for first time buyers or $6,500 for repeat buyers.