Can I List My House Over the Holidays?

Yes. You can list your house between Thanksgiving and New Year's, and you can set showing times around your family plans. Take your listing photos before you decorate, keep the decorations light, and tell your agent which days are off limits.

I am Delia Bayna, a REALTOR with eXp Realty in Salt Lake City, Utah, and a Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES). Many sellers assume nothing happens in December. Here is what listing during the holidays looks like.

Fewer people go house hunting in December, and fewer homes come on the market. The buyers who are out often have a reason to move soon, such as a new job, a lease that ends, or a change in the family. Some use time off work to tour homes.

A smaller group of buyers with a reason to move is a good group to be in front of. If you are thinking about December, I can show you what is listed near you right now, so you are looking at your own streets and not a guess.

The first week a house is on the market still matters in December. Buyers who have been waiting see it right away. My post on why the first week on the market matters so much explains why that week deserves your best effort.

Listing photos stay online for as long as your house is for sale. A tree in the corner on December 2 looks out of date by January 10. Have the photos taken before you decorate, or after the decorations come down.

While the house is for sale, keep the decorating light. A wreath on the door, a small tree, and a string of lights in a window are plenty. Clear the counters and tables, and store the empty bins out of sight. Buyers need to see the rooms, and a room full of boxes looks smaller than it is.

My post on getting your house ready for listing photos covers photo day room by room.

You can tell your agent which days are off limits. Many sellers block off Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day, and keep the rest of the calendar open. You can also set a window, such as afternoons only, for the weeks when family is in town.

When guests stay with you, plan where their cars and suitcases go. A driveway full of cars makes it hard for a buyer's agent to park, and a guest bed in the office changes how that room looks. Before a showing, gather the suitcases into one closet and move the extra cars down the street for an hour.

Snow does not take the holidays off either. If you will be traveling, line up someone to clear the walks while you are gone. I cover that in how to keep your house ready for showings when it snows.

A house listed in early December may go under contract around the holidays and close in the new year. That can mean a move in January or February. Plan for it now, so the timing does not catch you by surprise. My post on how long you have to move out after closing explains how the contract sets your move-out date.

Title companies, lenders, and movers take holidays too. Ask early which days they are closed, so a signing date does not land on a day nobody is in the office.

Listing over the holidays is not right for everyone. Waiting can make sense when:

• You want this holiday in the house with your family, with no showings.
• You have not decided where you will go next.
• The house needs work you cannot finish before mid-December.
• Your family will be together, and you want to talk the move through with them first.

If you wait, use December well. Sort a closet a week, make the small repairs, and get your numbers, so the house is ready to list in January.

If your house is ready and you know where you are going, I would list in early December, with photos taken before the tree goes up and a few days blocked off for family. If either of those is not ready, I would use the holidays to get there and list in January. I will tell you which one I would pick for your house and why.

I call and email every client every Friday, from the day we start until after closing, whether there is news or not. The holidays are busy, and one set call each week means you never have to wonder where the house stands. I spent eighteen years as a teacher, and I know a calm plan helps most in the busiest weeks of the year.

If you are still weighing the season, read whether to sell in winter or wait for spring and what buyers notice in a winter showing. You can also read more about selling a home in Salt Lake City or see my downsizing page.

Is it a bad idea to list my house in December?

No. Fewer homes are for sale, and the buyers who are looking often have a reason to move. Plan your photos, decorations, and showing days ahead.

Can I say no to showings on Thanksgiving and Christmas?

Yes. Tell your agent which days are off limits before the house goes live.

Can I put up a Christmas tree while my house is for sale?

A small one is fine. Take your listing photos before you decorate, and keep counters and tables clear.

Will my sale close over the holidays?

It may close in the new year. Ask early which days the title company and lender are closed, and plan your move with snow in mind.

This article is general information and is not legal or lending advice. Your contract sets your closing and possession dates, so ask your agent or a Utah real estate attorney about the terms of yours.