Memorial Day weekend is quickly approaching, signaling the start of the busy summer real estate season. If you’re getting ready to put your home on the market, you may be wondering if a holiday weekend is a good time to have an open house. Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons.
Pros of a holiday weekend open house
Serious buyers -- One of the biggest advantages to scheduling an open house during a holiday weekend like Memorial Day is that you’ll attract serious buyers. Many people like to take time off from their busy lives over the holiday weekend, including time away from stressors like house hunting. For this reason it’s less likely you’ll get buyers who are just browsing and not yet serious about making an offer. If they’re making an effort to see your house when they could be relaxing by the pool instead, that’s a good sign.
In addition, having an open house on a holiday weekend means you could attract buyers who may be looking to relocate closer to family. Long weekends give people an opportunity to travel greater distances to visit loved ones. If they’ve been toying with the idea of moving closer, they may decide to do some house hunting while they’re in town.
Less competition -- Since many sellers might choose to forgo having an open house on a holiday weekend, you’ll have much less competition if you do decide to have one. Those motivated buyers will have fewer houses to look at, which could seriously work in your favor.
Easy to get out of the house -- As a seller, it will also be easier for you to get out of the house during your holiday weekend open house. Buyers aren’t comfortable having the seller lurking around while they’re looking at the home. On a holiday weekend, you’ll have plenty of reasons to get out of the house and enjoy your day.
Cons of a holiday weekend open house
It’s disruptive -- If your family likes to celebrate over the holiday weekend, holding an open house can be disruptive, especially if you’d like to have one last hurrah in your home. Selling a house is stressful, and you may decide you really need to take a break over the long weekend to rest and recharge.
Fewer buyers -- Another disadvantage is that although you may have motivated buyers attending your open house over a holiday weekend, you will most likely have less foot traffic. It can definitely put a damper on your energy if you decide to skip the vacation and have an open house, only to have very few people show up.
The bottom line
Ultimately, the decision to have an open house or not over a holiday weekend is a personal one. If you need to take some time away from the selling process, a long weekend is a great time to do it. However, if you’d like to make a sale as quickly as possible, it may be worth it to have an open house to attract those serious buyers out there. Talk with your agent to determine the best strategy for you. We hope that no matter what you decide, that you and your loved ones enjoy your Memorial Day weekend!
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