It’s official, we have entered the “Holiday Season!” I, for one, am thoroughly enjoying the Backstreet Boys’ new holiday album that dropped in October. I feel like I’m always trying to find new Christmas music that I like. Download “A Very Backstreet Christmas” and let me know if you like it.
Speaking of something new, how about a new or new-to-you house!! I wanted to share three advantages of buying or selling during the holiday season.
Let’s start with the one that I think is a huge advantage that no one considers, regardless of how insignificant it seems. Dormant grass! Haha.
Really, though, as a seller, you won’t have to maintain that landscaping or cut the grass every week while the home is for sale, or handle the yard and moving the day of closing! It’s also more acceptable to not replace your pine straw or mulch and that saves money and time.
As a buyer, once you’ve closed, it’s also a relief. You have time to move in without the extra burden of hiring someone or taking the time to care for it. If you are a new homeowner, you don’t have to rush out and buy all the equipment needed to care for a lawn. That saves big money and gives you time to acquire those things before the spring. Seriously, in the growing season, that grass needs to be cut every five days. What a headache!
The next one that helps both a buyer and seller is reduced day-of-closing fees. If you are a buyer and close on a home using a loan that establishes an escrow account, you will have the lowest costs to be had all year. This is due to the prorated taxes.
Because the tax bill is generally paid in October, your escrow account doesn’t need to start with a huge surplus of funds. As a seller, you don’t have to pay your share in full at closing. This reduces the out-of-pocket expenses for both the seller and buyer on the day of closing! I would expect this savings to be a minimum of $1,000 for both sides!
The last advantage is simply the act of moving. During the holidays, the volume of sales is lower than the rest of the year. This means, you have more available movers, or moving trucks to choose from. You have more cleaning companies with availability and these things help you save money and stress.
Additionally, most of us have more time off from work. If you time it right, you could have more time to pack or unpack and settle in. And of course, let’s not forget we live in the armpit of the south. The weather will be pleasant while you move. How nice would it be to enjoy a moving day and not be miserable in the Georgia heat?
Moving is always going to be stressful and expensive, but if you are open to thinking outside the box, there are some great advantages to a holiday move. Maybe you need a better kitchen for holiday baking? Could it be time for a larger living room to hold your growing family?
Whatever the reason, don’t discount this time of year and think it’s better to wait for spring.
