More than 75 percent of realty professionals ''back off during the holiday season,'' said Horowitz of Century 21. Between Thanksgiving and New Year, many agents work fewer hours, and some take the entire period as vacation. Sellers should select an agent carefully or risk receiving less than full representation. That means that an agent makes the marketing of your home a priority, especially during the initial days or weeks after the property has gone up for sale, when the most eager buyers are likely to surface. Use holiday decor but not lavishly.
People respond to warm, festive holiday colors.
Holiday decorations help your house sparkle, but don't overdo it,'' she advised. Such holiday trappings as an oversized Christmas tree can make a home seem smaller than it is. Keep your home listing in the public eye through advertising. During the holiday season, real estate advertising typically diminishes, as the number of homes on the market shrinks. It's vital that your advertising remain prominent during this period, both in newspapers and on the Internet.