Should You Wait Until Spring to Sell Your House? The Holidays May Be a Better Opportunity Than You Think

If you are thinking about selling your Montgomery County home, you have probably heard the same advice: "Wait until spring."

That sounds logical. Spring brings warmer weather, green lawns and more buyers.

But it also brings something sellers sometimes forget: More competition.

Putting your house on the market during November, December or early January can create an opportunity that many homeowners overlook.

There are fewer buyers during the holidays. There are also fewer homes for those buyers to choose from. And the buyers who are willing to interrupt their holiday schedule to tour your house may have a very good reason for doing it.

Here is the Part Sellers Often Miss

Not every buyer disappears during the holidays.

Think about the buyer who is touring houses on a cold Saturday in December instead of shopping, traveling, watching football or attending a holiday party.

Why are they out looking at houses?

There may be a deadline behind their move. They may have accepted a new job. Their lease may be ending. Their current house may already be under contract. They may be relocating. They may have a family change that requires another home. They may simply have decided that now is the time to buy.

That does not mean every holiday buyer is highly motivated. But someone actively touring homes during one of the busiest times of the year deserves a seller's attention.

You do not need 100 buyers walking through your house. You need the right buyer.

Vacant Homes Can Have an Extra Advantage

This can be especially useful when a home is already vacant.

An occupied homeowner might say: "No showings Friday night. Our family is coming over." "No showings Saturday. We are having a party." "No showings next week. Our children are visiting." "No showings Christmas Eve."

That is understandable. But every blocked showing is a buyer who cannot see the house at that moment.

A vacant home does not have the same problem. If a motivated buyer wants to see the property tomorrow morning, it may be possible. If they want to come back with their parents that afternoon, it may be possible. If they want a second showing before leaving town, it may be possible.

Convenience becomes part of the marketing strategy.

That does not mean vacant homes are the only homes that should be listed during the holidays. Occupied homes can sell successfully, too. It simply means sellers need a showing strategy that works around their holiday schedule without making the property unnecessarily difficult for serious buyers to see.

Stage the House — Don't Decorate It for the Holidays

There is an important difference between decorating and staging.

Decorating is about making a home reflect the owner's personality. Staging is about helping buyers imagine the house becoming their home.

The National Association of REALTORS reported in its 2025 Profile of Home Staging that 83% of buyers' agents said staging made it easier for buyers to visualize a property as their future home.

NAR also found that 29% of agents reported a 1% to 10% increase in the dollar value offered on staged homes. And 49% of sellers' agents reported that staging reduced the amount of time the home spent on the market.

That is why we take staging seriously.

The goal is not to fill every room with furniture. The goal is to control what the buyer sees, where their eyes go and how they feel when they walk through the house. That becomes even more important during the holidays.

About Tania Ivey

Tania Ivey is a real estate content specialist and the writer of this article. She researches housing-market data, analyzes industry statistics from sources including the National Association of REALTORS and the Real Estate Staging Association, and creates educational content for homeowners navigating the selling and downsizing process. Tania works with Marc Cormier and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty team in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Waiting Until Spring Has a Cost, Too

Homeowners usually think about what they might gain by waiting. They do not always consider what could go wrong.

Waiting could bring more buyers. But it could also bring more listings. Interest rates could change. Buyer demand could change. Your personal situation could change. A competing house could be renovated and listed. Or five similar homes could hit the market within several weeks of yours.

Nobody can promise what the spring market will look like.

That is why the decision should be based on your home, your neighborhood, your competition and your goals.

Thinking About Downsizing?

If you are considering downsizing in Montgomery County, do not start by deciding when to list the house. Start by figuring out what the house could realistically sell for now, what preparation makes financial sense and whether waiting until spring is actually likely to help.

About Marc Cormier

Marc Cormier is a licensed real estate professional with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty, based in Montgomery County, Maryland. With 27+ years of experience and 800+ closed transactions, Marc specializes in probate properties, distressed sales, and helping families navigate the downsizing process across Maryland, DC, and Virginia. This article was reviewed by Marc Cormier for accuracy and local-market relevance.

Service Area: Montgomery County, Maryland