Special Sellers Guide: Selling Your Home During the Holidays

Only Serious Buyers Are Actively Visiting

The buyers who keep booking showings in December aren’t just looking. They’re the ones who:

– need to relocate for work

– are trying to lock down their next home before school starts again

– want to invest before year-end

– need to buy and can’t afford to lose another month

Their need is real, and that’s exactly why their search comes before family time and trips down south.

Getting your home ready for showings

Keep the holiday decorations low-key

The tree, the throw pillows, the ornaments all add a festive touch, but I often tell my clients to keep decorations to a minimum.

It’s not a style issue. It’s about not getting in the way of the showing. Avoid:

– big decorations that block the view of architectural features

– fragile ornaments along stair railings

– sentimental pieces that could get damaged

– anything blocking pathways or access to doors, closets, or windows

Indoor Temperature and Comfort

Keep the indoor temperature comfortable. Buyers should feel at ease, not overheated.

A working fireplace or other heating features add to the experience.

Lighting and atmosphere

Make the most of natural light during daytime showings. Opening the curtains and blinds makes a real difference.

For evening showings, make sure lighting is bright enough and consistent throughout the home. I recommend skipping the coloured string lights, since they can distort how buyers see the space or the finishes.

Show-ready, every day

When the kids are home all day, keeping the place to standard gets harder.

Do your best to keep surfaces clean and clutter-free.

Small repairs and clean finishes always land with discerning buyers. For higher-end properties, the difference is in the details.

Plan showings smartly

Screen showing requests upfront

Your broker should have a process to properly screen showing requests and confirm that the buyers are serious.

Your time is limited, especially during the holidays. This is how you protect it.

Set fixed showing windows

Tell your broker when you’re available. No need to overdo it. The holiday period runs two weeks at most, so offering three showing windows across three different days is enough.

You can also leave the door open for last-minute showings under certain conditions.

Turn showings into a sensory experience

What sets my approach to showings apart is how experiential it is.

I work with welcoming scents, considered lighting, and carefully chosen music to create a specific feeling for the buyers walking through.

Buyers form their opinion of a property from the first visit, so nothing is left to chance.

Follow-ups and feedback

Your broker is responsible for collecting impressions and feedback from the buyers who came through.

If there’s interest in submitting an offer, they handle the coordination with the buyers or their broker, including the follow-ups and the process on your behalf.