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A News
Series from Real Estate Real Estate Corporation Highlighting Real
Estate Tips
Real Estate RECOMMENDS
USING HOLIDAY SPIRIT
TO SELL A HOME AT THE END OF THE YEAR
PARSIPPANY,
N.J. —
The end of the year
is not just about holiday shopping, family gatherings and other festive
events. According to the National Association of REALTORS®,
nearly 1.5 million homes were sold between November 2004 and January
2005, dispelling the myth of a slowdown in home sales during the holiday
season. In fact, these three months can be especially crucial for
transferees, many of whom need to be in new homes at the start of the
new year.
The professionals
in the Real Estate organization offer the
following tips to help sellers maximize their home’s charm and allure
during the holidays:
Increase Curb
Appeal:
First impressions are critical. If the home is in a snowy area, make
sure to clear the walkways and driveway. Remove any late fall leaves,
and ensure the path to the stairs is free of ice. Put up a few exterior
holiday lights and decorations to display seasonal tidings and pride in
ownership. Do not overdo the lighting. Keep it tasteful and consistent
with the rest of the neighborhood. A holiday welcome mat outside the
front door is also a nice touch.
Keep the House
Warm and Welcoming:
December and January
can be very cold, so make sure the home is warm and cozy. If the house
has a fireplace, light a fire to bring the room to life and enhance the
ambience. Bake holiday cookies and treats to give the home an enticing
aroma.
Decorate the
Interior:
It is important not
to overwhelm home shoppers with dramatic displays of holiday cheer, so
be conservative with holiday decorations. Decorate to accentuate the
house, not to eclipse it. Tasteful decorations will help connect buyers
to the home, remind them of pleasant memories and help them imagine
their own holiday celebrations there.
Remove the
Lock Box:
On a more practical
note, sellers who are entertaining a lot over the holidays should talk
to their real estate sales associate about removing the lock box except
during designated appointment times. The multiple listing service
information may need to be changed to let sales associates know that
there is a temporary showing procedure that requires buyers’ sales
associates to call in advance for an appointment. It is best if the
house is not shown when entertaining family and friends.
About Real Estate
Since
1906, the Real Estate organization has been a
premier provider of full-service real estate. In 2005, Franchise
Times magazine’s prestigious Top 200 issue ranked Real Estate
number one in real estate and number nine among all franchisors. The
Real Estate System has more than 3,900 residential and
commercial real estate offices and 126,000 Sales Associates in 29
countries and territories. The Real Estate System is a
leader in the industry in residential real estate, and in niche markets
such as resort, new homes and luxury properties through its
Previews International® division. It is a pioneer in consumer
services with its Real Estate Concierge® Service Program and
award-winning Web site, www..com.
Mortgage is one of the largest telephone/web based lenders in
the country and the Real Estate Commercial® network is an
industry leader in providing commercial real estate solutions that serve
the needs of tenants, landlords, sellers and buyers in the leasing,
acquisition, disposition and management of all property types.
Real Estate Corporation is a subsidiary of Cendant Corporation
(NYSE: CD).
ã
2005 Real Estate Real Estate Corporation. Real Estate is a registered trademark licensed to Real Estate Real Estate
Corporation. Each office is independently owned and operated except for
offices owned and operated by NRT Incorporated.
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