Special Properties Real Estate Services-Christie’s International
Buying or selling a house is not something most of us do regularly. The average person will own approximately 5 homes in their lifetime. Despite the fact that most of us rarely enter into the real estate market, we think we know how it all works based on shared stories from family and friends. You may have been told by an agent that buyers don’t shop on holidays because they are busy with family. Guess what, not true! Buyers shop when they have time to look and that time is typically around a long holiday weekend. In fact this past (Thanksgiving) weekend, our team contracted 3 homes. I have also sold homes on Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, 4th of July, Memorial Day Weekend, and Labor Day Weekend.
Holiday Shocker: December 28th is actually the busiest day for real estate searches in the entire year and the second most searched was New Year’s Day. Perhaps buying a home is a popular New Year’s resolution or maybe it’s as simple as feeling the need for more space after cramming family in for the holiday. In the past, I have encouraged sellers to put their homes on the market in between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day. Each time we did it, we secured a contract within a week.
Another high-performing day is July 6th, apparently, instead of traveling, many buyers use the extended time off to house hunt. In the beginning of my career, I tried taking trips during holiday weekends assuming everyone else would be traveling as well, however; it didn’t take long for me to figure out it was best for me to stay home and make myself available. That shift in my thinking has allowed me to match many buyers with their current homes and made many sellers happy they had that open house we suggested.
Lowest performing holiday, in case you wondered, is Valentine’s Day!
So now you know. If someone tells you buyers do not shop on holidays, with confidence you can tell them they don’t have their facts right.
