Should You Put House Flipping Properties on the Market during Holidays

There are plenty of arguments for and against listing a flipped property during the holiday season. Some house flippers will simply close up shop from November to January because they worry that there aren’t enough motivated buyers out there to make their money back. But many of the most experienced house flippers have come to view house flipping as a year-round business.

Here are some of the pros and cons of trying to sell a flipped house during the holidays:

Pro – there are fewer properties listed. Many people who are trying to sell their own homes will take their listings down during the holidays so they can avoid the hassle of open houses and potentially moving during their winter break. This is a great advantage for house flippers, because their properties will be viewed that much more often.

Con – there are fewer people looking for homes. Like sellers, many buyers slow or stop their searches during the holiday season.

Pro – house hunting has become a year-round habit. Thanks to apps like Zillow and Redfin, those same buyers who might visit fewer open houses during the holidays are still going to check their phones for new property listings.

Con – house prices tend to be lower during the winter. Your contractor might also charge extra to finish a job during December. Your costs could go up, and buyers might expect a better deal than you’re willing to give during the holiday season.

Pro – buyers tend to be more motivated during the holidays. While fewer people are interested in house hunting during the holidays, those who are usually need to use their vacation time to move in a hurry. The right motivated buyer could make an offer on the spot.

Ultimately, we believe that the benefits of selling a flip during the holidays outweigh the possible downsides. Obviously, avoid scheduling your flip to be market-ready on December 24, but short of that, if you find a great property to flip this holiday season, don’t let outdated advice about holiday buying trends slow you down.

Here are some holiday-specific house flipping tips to help your investment property sell fast this season:

• Keep the house nice and warm. Especially if your property is somewhere snowy, give home buyers a respite from the cold. Offer hot chocolate to keep them ambling about your flip even longer.
• Embrace the holiday spirit with some decorations. A few lights on the outside of the house and some secular holiday decorations throughout the interior will help your flip feel cozy and inviting
• Take amazing photos. This is good advice all year long, but it’s particularly important during the holidays when people may be extra picky about which houses they’ll brave the cold to visit.
• Price the house to sell. One of the biggest house flipping mistakes is overvaluing the house. When fewer people are out house hunting, it’s especially important to pick a price point that will encourage buyer interest and hopefully spark a bidding war.

Best of luck with your flips this holiday season and throughout the new year!