For many veteran real estate agents, selling a house during the holidays is to be avoided at all costs. What, with everyone being so overscheduled with parties and family and winter being painfully uninviting, sellers have historically been advised to wait until spring.

But news flash: This is Florida, and ‘winter’ doesn’t really exist. So our holidays add another 2-3 months of balmy real estate weather. And with online listings, home sales are no longer reliant on seasonal accommodations.

And despite a smaller selection of homes on the market – and fewer buyers – some steelier, experienced agents know that the holidays are one of the best-kept real-estate-selling secrets because buyers are likely in the market at a personally inconvenient time out of necessity.

Many home sellers take a holiday hiatus until the New Year so houses that stay on the market suddenly become hot commodities. And if buyers are squeezing in home showings between shopping, holiday parties and family gatherings, you can be sure they’re serious.

The rules, however, are a little different for selling during the holiday season so here are six tips to get your house sold before you sing Auld Lang Syne at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Day.

Price It Right.
No matter what time of year, a home that’s priced low(-er) for the market will make buyers feel the cheer. So rather than gradually making small price reductions, consider one larger price reduction instead as the holiday sales season is a little shorter than it looks on the calendar, leaving less time to negotiate with interested buyers.

Take New Photos.
Take new photos to show your home at its warm, inviting, cozy holiday best. Clear your yard and driveway of leaves, branches, and sad landscaping, and while you’re at it, light a fire in your fireplace if you have one and add some subtle seasonal decor to the mantel.

Minimize Holiday Decorating.
While you may love to go all-out with holiday decor, it’s your decor in your house – and it makes it harder for prospective buyers to envision themselves in it. Further, it’s important to be sensitive to cultural and religious differences over the holidays. So hang a wreath, string some garland and light some candles. Less is more.

Get Cozy.
Nothing sells the holidays more than an air of coziness – and nothing will help sell your home more than if prospective buyers can picture their families gathering to make memories in a warm, inviting home. A fire in the fireplace, the smell of cookies baking and a chunky throw on the sofa will make your home nearly irresistible.

Set Boundaries.
Since it is the holidays, after all, be sure to set some boundaries so that not every waking minute is relegated to selling your home. Schedule some blackout days for when your home won’t be available for showings in advance, making sure to tell your agent so that they can notify buyers’ agents, too.

Schedule Strategically.
While you may be prepared to ‘work’ during the holidays to sell your home, you may find it difficult to find a closing attorney or lender available during the end of the year. So as best you can, try to plan in advance to coordinate with those people who will be available near year’s end.

While selling a home over the holidays can be nerve-wracking and feel overwhelming, it absolutely can be done with the help and expertise of the experienced real estate professionals at DeLeon Sheffield.

Because at DeLeon Sheffield Company, ‘We’re More Than Realty; We’re Family.’