Listing your home for sale during the holiday season sounds a bit crazy, doesn’t it? But sometimes there are very good reasons why the timing of needing to list your home doesn’t necessarily align with an ideal time of year. You may have a new job in another state, you may have had a change in your life such as a marriage or new baby on the way. Whatever the reason, your friends at Cale are here to share some insight into listing your home “holidays style” so that it gets the traction you need while everyone else may be distracted by twinkling lights and wrapping paper and bows!
Price It Right: Do a little homework and research what similar homes in your area are selling for. You need to set your selling price for your home realistically based on current market conditions to attract buyers who are serious. Just like you needing to sell your home during the holidays, there are buyers who need to buy during this time too.
Use Professional Photos: Buyers start their searching online before stepping one foot out the door to go and look at a potential home. Therefore, professional photos, including virtual tours, are essential for you to convey a strong first impression for prospects.
Decorate Tastefully: While the urge to decorate your holiday home may be great and you want to show off the extensive nutcracker collection or display your Clark Griswold-like talents in exterior lighting, remember, buyers want to buy your home – not the decorations. Keep decorations simple, neutral, and elegant to create a cozy feel without cluttering the space or distracting from the home’s features.
Be Flexible (but Set Boundaries): Realize that even though it is the holiday season and parties, family in town or visiting might be on your calendar, you need to accommodate potential buyers wanting to come into your home to view it. Be ready to accommodate showings but work with your agent to block out specific holidays or family event times to minimize stress for all involved..
Enhance Coziness: Cold and cooler temperatures are not necessarily ideal home showing conditions. But you can use that to enhance the moment! Showcase the winter appeal of your by highlighting a fireplace, using warm lighting, and ensuring the home is comfortably heated during showings. Set out a hot cocoa bar or a plate of freshly baked cookies as a welcome. The little touches can go a long way for potential buyers to envision themselves living in your home and enjoying it no matter what the season is!
Ultimately, whether to list during the holidays depends on your personal circumstances and local market conditions. Consulting with an experienced, local real estate agent such as Cale Realty can help you determine the best approach for a successful sale.
Randy joined Cale Management in June of 2013 as our Maintenance Manager. Randy oversees apartment and property maintenance for the entire Cale Management Portfolio. He has over 25 years’ experience in construction and property maintenance.
Randy and his wife Lorna live in Newport News, VA. Randy enjoys spending time with his children and grandchildren.
Randy goes above and beyond to assist residents and owners, and he has a reputation for being thoughtful and generous with his time. Randy’s experience and knowledge make him an extremely valuable asset to Cale Management.
Jasmine is a Hampton native and has a Bachelor’s of Sociology and Masters of Criminal Justice and Urban Affairs. Jasmine joined Cale Management in 2020 and is currently the Site Manager for Qwik-Stor Self Storage. She has over 15 years of customer service experience. Jasmine strives to uphold leadership, great communication skills, and to nurture a successful business. Jasmine enjoys spending time with her family and instructing as an adjunct Professor at Norfolk State University.
Jay joined Cale Management in 2011 and has 21 years of accounting experience with a large focus in building, development, and real estate. Prior to joining Cale Management, Jay was chief controller for Wayne Harbin Builder, Inc., a large custom home builder located in Southeastern Virginia. Jay is a 1995 graduate of Christopher Newport University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. Jay lives in York County, VA with his son and is an avid sports fan.
Brie Cale joined Cale Realty Company in February 2022. Brie, a Florida native, moved to Williamsburg, VA in 2017 after working in residential Real Estate in Jupiter, Florida. Prior to real estate, Brie taught English and Intensive Reading for Palm Beach County Schools. Brie holds a BA in English and Interdisciplinary Studies from Florida Atlantic University. She currently lives in Williamsburg, VA with her husband, James H. Cale III, and their two children.
Ann joined Cale Management in October 2010. She is a licensed real estate agent in Virginia and has years of experience in property management, sales, admin/human resources, and public relations. Prior to joining Cale, she worked 23 years in the medical profession as clinical coordinator and public relations for a team of surgeons. She is a lifelong resident of Newport News, VA and has a Business Administration degree. Ann enjoys spending her free time at the beach and with her family.
Christina has over 15 years of experience in the Real Estate Industry and has held her real estate license since 2007. She started working as a Real Estate Assistant during College. She also has extensive experience working in the property management field, including Single Family and Multi-family management,
Christina is a graduate of Virginia Tech with a Bachelor’s Degree in Residential Property Management. She is an area native, born in Poquoson, Virginia and has since lived in Newport News, York County and Williamsburg. Christina currently resides in Williamsburg with her husband Nick, daughter Waverly and her dogs Sydney and Rosie.
John is the Managing Broker for Cale Realty Company, Manager of Cale Development, LLC, and President of Cale Management, Inc. He is a 2002 graduate of Elon University with a BA in Political Science and is a licensed Real Estate Broker in Virginia and North Carolina. John also holds a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) accreditation and serves on the Williamsburg Planning Commission. John began his professional career in 2002 working for Ferguson Enterprises. After several years in the Sales Management Program with Ferguson, he decided to get in the family business of Real Esstate.
John started working for University Suites, LLC in 2006 to search for student housing development sites throughout the southeast. He directly administered over development, acquisitions, and sales for several large student-housing developments. From land development to residential & commercial sales, and property management, John is experienced all across the real estate spectrum. John and his wife, Allie, reside in Williamsburg, VA with their two children. He is an avid boater and loves to travel.
Cale Realty Company was established in 1951 by Hatcher’s father, specializing in residential brokerage and marketing of new homes subdivisions. Hatcher became President and sole Owner in 1976. He is a past recipient of the Realtor of the Year from the Peninsula Realtors Association. McCale Development Corporation was established in 1978 where Hatcher was the founder and Co-Owner, having developed more than 3,000 single family, multi-family lots. Hatcher is the founder and is the Managing Partner of University Suites, LLC. University Suites developed, built and managed five Student Housing Apartments projected in Virginia and the Carolinas. University Suites was ranked third largest as a developer, builder and manager nationally at the height of their development. Hatcher is the Owner of University Suites @ Coastal Carolina in Conway, South Carolina. Regal Homes, Inc. solely owned by Hatcher for more than 25 years has built a self-storage facility and is the Owner of QWIK STOR in Hampton, Virginia plus numerous multi-family developments, over 500 homes and three Office Parks with one of them Cale Colony 17 being awarded Architecturally Distinction by the City of Newport News. He is a former President of Peninsula Housing and Builders Association. While president he and the Association was recipient of two National awards for the most membership increase in numbers and percentage by the National Association Home Builders. Hatcher is a Charter Director of the Executive Board of the Peninsula Economic Development Council, as well as a Charter Director of Towne Bank of Williamsburg.
Hatcher has three children: Jamie 43, a graduate of Christopher Newport University and a Financial Adviser with Morgan Stanley; John 42, a graduate of Elon University and an Owner Operator of Cale Management, LLC. located in Williamsburg, Virginia: Blake, 32 a graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design and is a Graphic & Web Designer at 903 CREATIVE. Hatcher is a graduate of Christopher Newport University with a degree in Business Administration. Hatcher established an academic scholarship at Christopher Newport University in memory of his father. He is the past Chairman of the Educational Foundation of Christopher Newport University. Hatcher was the first recipient of the Outstanding Alumni Award from the School of Business and is the recipient of the Outstanding Alumni Award from Chowan University in North Carolina. He also founded the Scholarship House for the Peninsula Housing and Builders Association where all proceeds from the sale of the annual Scholarship House goes to Scholarships for students attending three of the area Colleges. Hatcher is a Charter Member of the Peninsula Rotary. He has served as Director on the Newport News/Williamsburg Airport Commission.