The holiday season has finally started. And if you’re like the average US resident, you’ve probably started getting your winter decorations up. But even though you’re having a jolly time decking the halls, your thoughts keep bouncing back to reality. How can you manage to sell your for sale by owner house, enjoy the holidays, and stay sane – all at the same time?
We have good news! We’ve got your reality covered so you can enjoy your holidays to the max. Read on to discover exactly what to do during the winter season if you’re selling FSBO.
Safety
We’re going to start by taking you through the best safety steps to keep in mind. These will help keep you, your family, and potential buyers safe and secure during showings.
Inclement weather
This is probably the most obvious of safety tips, but one that still gets passed over in the moment. Of course, the bottom line when it comes to showing is to keep everyone as safe as possible. However, good intentions don’t always make for good decisions. We would suggest that in the case of bad weather, you have a alternative plan for showings – like a rain check date, for instance.
If you get to the day or even the hour of the showing and the weather is bad or the roads aren’t clear, it isn’t worth risking lives to get to a showing. Be sure to tell your clients ahead of time that you will have a backup plan. This plan could include rescheduling to the next day or week or it could simply consist of waiting the storm out a few hours.
Accessories to have on hand
Now that we’ve talked about what to do about bad weather before the showing, we’re going to discuss what to do if a storm blows up during a showing. Consider this: Holly and Nicholas are at your house for a showing. The storm outside starts getting worse, and suddenly, the power goes out. Panic ensues, and it’s up to you to calm everyone down.
A great way to avoid total darkness in this scenario is to have candles already lit around the house. This not only provides light but also a calming atmosphere. Another precaution is to have flashlights or other emergency lights planted in every room. This makes light quick to access and will, in turn, calm worried buyers.
If it’s in your budget, having a generator at the ready also ensures quick “re-lighting” of the house. However, we understand this is a big expense, and not everyone can afford that while selling their house.
Selling
In this day and age, presentation is a bigger deal than it used to be. So how do you attract people to your house during the holiday season?
Seasonal pictures
An excellent way to catch buyers’ eyes is to take holiday home pictures. Once you have all your winter decorations up, take new pictures of your house. This will make your house feel homey and definitely make it more attractive to buyers. You will have to take new pictures in the spring. However, since pictures aren’t too hard to take, it’s not a big deal.
Seasonal treats
For the most part, everyone enjoys holiday treats. And food is the key to many people’s hearts. This means offering holiday-inspired treats during showings might be a key to success. Having cups of hot cocoa or coffee available is a good way to start. Gingerbread cookies and candy canes also make for fun tokens of appreciation to give your viewers.
Sanity
Picture this scenario: your house is decorated, newly cleaned and scrubbed, and ready for house showings. Ivy, Douglas, and their children arrive for a showing,and step inside – out of a swirling snowstorm. Snow quickly starts melting everywhere inside your clean house, and you try to keep your calm.
This isn’t something any FSBO seller wants to experience. But is there a way to avoid it? Believe it or not, there are a few ways!
Do your mat
Do you remember that front door, holiday, heavy-duty mat you’ve been admiring at the store? It’s time to go ahead and buy it. Not only will this add a fun, holiday dimension to your home, but it will also save you hours of cleaning up melted snow.
Remove shoes
Another way to keep your floors clear of liquid and debris is to ask buyers to remove their shoes. Provide a pair of slippers for every person, so they don’t have to go barefoot. Their feet will stay warm, and your floors will be clean. We’d call that a win-win.
Enjoy the season
Our last tip is complicated and simple at the same time: enjoy the season while it lasts. The holidays only come around once a year, so it’s important not to let the little things stress or worry you. If your floors get wet, don’t get stressed out. Turn on your favorite Christmas song and grab a towel to take care of the mess.
If you have to cancel a showing, don’t be concerned about abrupt change that redirects your schedule. Instead, use this time to do some last-minute gift shopping. Or grab your family and watch a movie together. Make the best of every situation.
Happy Holidays!
Don’t let the busyness of the season take over your home selling process. Make time both for the holidays and for home selling, and discover what an enjoyable experience you can have. We wish you all the best during your holiday home selling. If you need any last-minute Christmas project ideas, be sure to take a look at these five, trending, DIY projects!
