- Find a Real Estate Professional
- Realtors®
- Mortgage Lenders
- Home Improvement Pros
- Other Real Estate Services
- Review an Agent, Lender or Pro
- Marketing on Zillow
- Real Estate Agent Advertising
- Join the Professional Directory
- Popular
- Real Estate Market Reports
- More
Answers (21)
Best Answer
- Hal Hovey, "Hal Hovey"
- Contributions:79
The buyers who are looking during the holidays tend to be very serious about buying, so there are fewer "sightseers" out looking. Often times buyers who are relocating to our area will take advantage of the break to come here on a house-hunting trip, and are often determined to buy during the trip. I sold two houses last week between Christmas and New Years, and am working with two buyers this year as well during that period. If you have your house on the market during the holidays, do not discourage showings, this may be your only opportunity to catch those buyers who are just in town for the holiday week!
- Kevin Lisota
- Contributions:479
Logically, the holidays are supposed to be a slow time for home showings. Overall that is true, but inevitably a subset of our buyers get serious about home shopping during the holidays because they have time off.
The last 3 years, agents in our office remained exceptionally busy during the holiday week with home buyers. I think overall showing traffic declines 35%+ during this time, but there are definitely serious buyers out there shopping during holiday seasons.
The last 3 years, agents in our office remained exceptionally busy during the holiday week with home buyers. I think overall showing traffic declines 35%+ during this time, but there are definitely serious buyers out there shopping during holiday seasons.
- Latika Archuleta, "Latika Archuleta"
- Contributions:45
An agent is likely to show if a buyer is sincere and serious, that means the buyer has a loan in place with a valid letter from the lender, they can prove the funds to close and have a definite timeline that they want to be in a home. However as an agent with many listings, you have people visiting family from out of town, and they will call me and say the just want to "look". they don't feel it necessary to get a pre-qualiification etc.. because they just want to "look". In this particular case, it may be difficult to get an agent out to "tour" a looker around the holidays...
- Felicia Jordan CNS, SFR, "MYREALTORFORLIFE"
- Contributions:135
The holiday season is one of the best times to sell homes. Only the most serious buyers will look at homes during the holidays and many of them need to be in their new home around the first of the year. Also, homes tend to show very well with holiday decorations.
- Judy Mann, "southsoundrealestate"
- Contributions:113
I agree that buyers looking over the holidays are serious buyers. As a former military spouse we moved several times over the winter break. We would look for a house between Christmas and New Years. It is hard as a seller to have your house "show ready" during the holidays but I believe if you are be willing to have your house available to show it would be in your best interest. Lastly, I try to be available to my clients as much as possible and would be more than willing to show during the holidays.
- Pamela Anderson, "Pamela Anderson"
- Contributions:91
I take my job very serious. Buyers who want to look at homes during the holidays tend to be very serious buyers. If the home is vacant or the seller is willing to vacate the home for the showing, I will definitely show it. Last year I showed on New Year's Day. This year, I got a call on Christmas Day.
- CulverCityRealtor
- Contributions:455
We show anytime a buyer wants to view property.
- Rob Graham, "Rob Graham"
- Contributions:171
I would guess that it is more then 50%. An agent with a healthy ballance between work and life is not going to jeopardize time with family at this time of the year, but there is plenty of time otherwise to accommodate cients.
- Ally Wangsness, "Your Seattle REALTOR"
- Contributions:74
Hi!
Full time agents work during the holiday season. I agree with Hal: the buyers who are looking at this time are very serious. Good luck!
Full time agents work during the holiday season. I agree with Hal: the buyers who are looking at this time are very serious. Good luck!
- Stephanie McCarty, "snellvilleagent"
- Contributions:521
I am 100% likely to show during the holidays if I have a serious buyer who is ready willing and able. Home sellers will be less likely to show during this time period simply because many people are focusing on the holidays - taking a break and not as inclined to waste time if they are not serious and have a deadline to meet.
- Robert Merhaut, "Robert Merhaut"
- Contributions:348
One more thing; What if someone was visiting the area from out of town, and your home was NOT on the market?
- Robert Merhaut, "Robert Merhaut"
- Contributions:348
I have had some great real estate successes during the holidays...for example, back in the boom days, when there was massive amounts of competition, and when representing a buyer it was a race to see the new listings and get the offer in first...Holidays were always a lull time that an aggressive hard working agent could use to his/her advantage over the ones that took it easy. In today's slower paced market it is probably not as necessary to be as quick as it was several years ago, but one should still try to accomodate the needs of his/her client-s.
- Michael Mullin, "WA and CA FHA Expert"
- Contributions:369
I'd guess 100% of the good agents will assist the clients during the holidays and 0% of the not so good ones will pick up their phone - just like the rest of us in this business.
Buying and selling is an incredibly emotional and expensive event for you - I can't imagine not helping someone when they need it.
My attitude is "if you are working, I'm working." :)
Buying and selling is an incredibly emotional and expensive event for you - I can't imagine not helping someone when they need it.
My attitude is "if you are working, I'm working." :)
- Carol Cammarata, "ccammara1"
- Contributions:12
Fulltime serious agents show property year round. I encurage all my clients to keep their homes listed during the holidays. Less invenory and very serious buyers makes a good combination.
- Laura Archiopoli, "archiopoli"
- Contributions:76
Most agents will show during the holiday season, except Christmas day. I have shown homes on New Years Eve in the late afternoon and also New Years Day. A homeowner may not want any showings due to the holidays, but I have found that most want their homes sold so are willing to allow showings. Good Luck!
- Terry Bastone, "terrybastone"
- Contributions:21
I agree, "a hard working agent will work during the holidays". We take our business seriously. Our clients work and the only time they may have to see homes are evenings, weekends and holidays. I am a Accredited Buyers Representative® I make sure I am available to my clients. Their dream of home ownership is my priorities.
.
- Jaryd Ruffner, "JarydRuffner"
- Contributions:98
Absolutely. I'm showing multiple houses on a daily basis to multiple clients. Interest rates are rising and many buyers are getting off the fence to write offers as they are watching their prospective monthly payments rising. There is also fewer homes actively for sale during the holidays so each seller will have a bit less competition. Most buyers that are out shopping right now are also serious buyers. It is a great time to list.
- James Berman, "TheNJRealtorGuy"
- Contributions:198
I have come to learn from my experience that part time agents will take off for every holiday. Professional full-time agents who work will work. But the drop in showings is not reflection of the agents but the pool of buyers. During the winter months starting in November till Xmass the number of buyers drop dramiticly as the quality of buyers increases. A buyer in December is worth 2 buyers in June.
- Tonya Brobeck, "Tonya Brobeck"
- Contributions:637
If they're a hard working agent they probably will show during the holidays, minus the actual holiday itself i.e. Christmas & New Years. I've worked several times all days in between
- wetdawgs
- Contributions:26830
In the past, twice we've had houses for sale over the holiday season. One of them received an offer on Dec 26. Viewings were more active in the week between Xmas and NY than any other time we'd had it on the market.
- Dan, "the_country_hick"
- Contributions:4697
If I was hungry enough I would show anytime.
Some agent will work with you almost anytime.
Some agent will work with you almost anytime.
How likey are agents to show during the holidays? Is it more than 50%?
Stating a discriminatory preference in an advertisement for housing is illegal. If you think this content is discriminatory or otherwise inappropriate and feel it should be removed from Zillow, please let us know by completing the information above.
We will review this content. Thanks for helping make the site more useful to everyone. To learn more, read Zillow's Good Neighbor Policy.