Holidays -a great time to buy , sell and decorate Your home!

It’s well known that summer is a busy season for buying homes.  But there are plenty of benefits — on both sides of the transaction — to consider decking the halls of a new home during the holidays.

Buying a Home:

• Sellers are motivated.

  Since this time of year is a less popular time to list, usually if the home is on the market, the sellers are motivated to sell their home.   (They might be trying to shop during this “off-season” as well.)  So, take advantage as the timing may help you get the most home for your money.

• There is less competition from other buyers.

  People want to move in the summer when the weather is warm and kids are out of school.  If you are willing to move into a new home in cooler weather, you will find there are fewer buyers out there trying to scoop a home up from under you.  That gives everyone on your side of the table a better chance at negotiations swinging in your favor.

• More focus from professionals in the process.

  In the height of home sale season, everyone — from you to your agent, loan officer, home appraiser, etc. — is busy with a lot of responsibilities to juggle.  But when you buy during the holidays, you’ll be fighting with a lot less competition for attention.  (Other than maybe some scheduled vacation times.)  A solid agent can shepherd you through the process no sweat during this time of year.

Selling a Home:

• Buyers are motivated. 

  Just like you as a seller are motivated to move into your new home during the holidays, so are the buyers coming to look at it.  Jump on this fervor for a new home by being flexible with open houses, showings, and creating appealing virtual tours with photos and video so buyers know exactly what the home offers them.

• Little enhancements go a long way. 

  Some strategic holiday decorations that make the house feel inviting are good as long as they aren’t too personal or specific.  That goes for both the inside of the home with staging and the landscaping to boost curb appeal.  Don’t forget, too: buyers are fighting the elements, so having a warm space that sports a couple of extra touches such as cinnamon candles or gingerbread cookies can put your home over the top.

• Hire a great agent.

  Because people shopping for homes may be few and far between, hiring an agent that not only has good connections in the neighborhood to get you the best set of buyers to view your home but also won’t disappear during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season is crucial to a great fit in a new home.

The winter months might not be known for home purchases, but remember: you’ll live in a home all year-round, so there’s no bad time to find the home of your dreams.

• • Basic decorations for your decorative focal point.

    If you are making the focal point of your decorations a Christmas tree, Hanukkah bush, or Kwanzaa mkeka, keep the decorations simple. Instead of spending a lot of time hanging ornaments on each part of the tree, keep it simple with lights and a tree topper and then use those special decorations on tables or on a string around the mantle.  (This also makes tear down easy.)

• Use your mantle as a card stand.

  You start getting cards for the holidays early.  Put some quick decorations — garland, candles, tapestries, etc. — on the mantle and then start filling the open spaces with cards.  It’s also the kind of decoration that keeps on growing as well as keeps the cards in one place if you want to keep them for scrapbooking later.

• Wreaths or other similarly sized decor help dress up everything — fast.

  A half dozen wreaths on the lights outside your home, the front door and a strategic staircase instantly take your home into the holiday season.  You can purchase reusable artificial wreaths already decorated with lights and ribbon that not only make decorating this year simple, but give you reusable items.

• Skip anything fresh or glittering.

  Pine needles can wind up stuck in your home’s carpet until April.  Glitter and tinsel never stay just where you place them, even if they do look beautiful in the low, flickering lights of candles and light strings that accompany the holiday season.   Alternatively, medium-sized items are easier to put up, take up more space and are easier to collapse so they don’t take up too much space in the garage during the rest of the year.

Remember, it’s about the holiday spirit .  A warm demeanor, great food and good times with friends and family are the most memorable parts of the season.   Simple, meaningful decorations are a great backdrop to quality time with those you care about.