Safety for the holidays, tips to give your sellers and buyers- also helps your marketing!

The holidays are almost here and we have Halloween knocking at our doors so there are a few tips I always give to my sellers and for us as agents that always seem to be the right trick to prevent any misfortune among us!

I have done this every year and it has been a big help so I wanted to share it with you!         

• Kids like to play tricks no matter what may be the result and as we all know kids act before thinking. I always go to all my listings before dark on Halloween and remove my real estate signs. I do this to prevent any kind of vandalism from trick or treaters. Teenagers seem to have no regard for property and it is best to remove them for that evening.
• Most folks like to decorate the exterior of their home for Halloween as well as Christmas. Remind your sellers that their home is on the market and to make sure there are no cords or wires that would cause anyone to trip or fall while entering the property.
• Remind your sellers that their home is on the market to sell so if they want to decorate as the old saying does, less is more! Remind them not to "cover up" their best home features with too much holiday decor. You still want their home to stand out and be noticed- not the holiday decor!
• Send out a holiday reminder list to your sellers and buyers! I send out a check list to my sellers reminding them of holiday safety for both the prospective buyers that will be coming to their home and also as a reminder not to over dress the home with holiday decor during marketing time. For my buyers, I also send them a friendly reminder that during the holiday season, to expect the homes they view to be dressed for the holidays. This is just a friendly reminder that they are seeing the homes during the special season and to keep that in mind when they are at a showing with me. You would be surprised just how many buyers appreciate the note I send them! I also include a holiday recipe for them to keep with my information right on the recipe card.