Attracting homebuyers during the holidays on top of all the other activities can be stressful. We put together 9 tips to help home sellers make the best of it.

December through January is considered the worst time to try and sell a home. Don’t let the thought of selling a home during the winter months dampen holiday spirits.

Keep decorations tastefully understated.

Homes often look their best during the holidays but smart sellers avoid offending buyers by opting for general winter decorations rather than items with religious themes. Adornments that don’t crowd the space can distract the buyers and make the house feel small so keep the decorations light.

Hire the right real estate agent.

Look for a full-time realtor in the area that has a good reputation.  Winter is not the time to use a friend of a friend’s uncle.  A professional agent won’t disappear during Christmas or New Years. Find an agent that will go above and beyond to get the home sold. A good agent is the best way to ease stress and enjoy the season.

Winter buyers are motivated buyers.

Good Real Estate agents will target buyers on a deadline, including people relocating for all types of reasons. The real estate agent should have a plan to reach the type of people who are desperately looking.

Don’t Over Price.

A home that’s priced correctly to the market will make buyers flock. Rather than gradually making small price reductions, good real estate agents advise sellers on how to price their home correctly before putting in on the market.

Marry curb appeal.

Maintaining the exterior of a home in the winter becomes even more important. If temperatures permit touch up the paint, clean the gutters and spruce up the yard. Keep buyers’ safety in mind as well by making sure the stairs and walkways are free of ice and snow.

Have your Realtor® take professional photos.

When the weather outside is frightful, homebuyers are likely to start their house hunt by the fire that is so delightful.  Most home searches start by browsing listings on the Internet. Home sellers should make a good first impression with high-quality photos of the home. If possible, have a summer or spring photo of the home available so buyers can see how it looks year-round.

Create a video tour to stand apart from other listings.

Shooting a video tour may attract house hunters who don’t have time to physically see the home. A well-done video during the holidays will allow home buyers the opportunity to experience the home in a completely different way than pictures could ever do.

May home shoppers feel like family.

The home should feel cozy and be inviting during showings. Turn up the heat, playing soft classical music and offering homemade holiday treats to home buyers. When shoppers are encouraged to spend more time in the home, they get more time to admire its best features.

The New Year is just around the corner.

The holidays are stressful enough with gifts to buy, dinners to prepare and relatives to entertain. Remember if the home doesn’t sell now, there’s always next year and the summer season is only a few months away.

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9 Tips for Selling Homes During the Holidays