Hashbarger's Tips for Selling Your Home During the Holidays.

1.  Don't follow the herd.  Taking your property off the market for the Holidays can be a big mistake.  Buyers who are braving the elements to find a house are serious buyers. If someone calls to show your property when you have a house full of guests, just say no.  If there are specific dates you can't be shown publish those dates in the listing.  If you are an over the top decorator make sure your decorations don't hide your architectural strong points.   After the Holidays refresh the listing with a slight price change, put away all the Holiday specific decorations, rethink furniture placement and take new pictures.

2.  Don't get frustrated.  If you tend to get a little frazzled with all the Holiday activities and demands don't let showing yor home be the activity that puts you over the edge.  It's all in attitude.  When someone wants to show your home think of it as a move toward earning a wonderful present; the sale of your home and starting the new year fresh.  We move toward what we're thinking.  If you think showing your home is a hassle you'll be right; if you think showing your home is an opportunity for reward you'll be right.  Think about what you want to move toward.

3.  Let the Holiday work for you. Most of the time dedicated sellers go out of their way to make their home smell attractive and homey.  At Holiday time your house is probably already filled with the smells of roasting, baking, greenery and carefully chosen scented oils and candles.  When you're choosing scented oils and candles remember to choose scents that won't compete with other desirable smells and create a cacophony that will work against you.  If you're not a baker you can get the ambiance by sprinkling some cinnamon or cloves on a baking sheet and popping it in the oven to release the fragrance.