Every year around November, I hear some version of the same question:

“Jen, should we just wait until January to put our house on the market?”

And I understand why.

The holidays are coming.

Thanksgiving dinner needs planned. 🦃

Christmas shopping hasn't even started. 🎁

The decorations are coming out.

Family is coming over.

And now I'm suggesting strangers walk through your house?

Seriously, Jen? 😂

So waiting until January sounds logical.

Fresh year.

Fresh start.

Put away Christmas.

List the house.

Easy decision.

Except...

it isn't always that simple.

Let's meet two imaginary Wichita homeowners.

We'll call them The Millers and The Johnsons.

Both are thinking about moving.

Both could list their homes in November.

But they make completely different decisions.

Let's see what happens. 👀

🏡 The Millers: “Let's Just Get It Listed.”

The Millers know they're moving.

Their house is basically ready.

They've decluttered.

There are a few things we want to adjust before photos, but nothing major.

Their first thought was to wait until January.

Then we talk.

And they decide:

“You know what? Let's go ahead.”

Their house hits the market in November.

Now here's where people sometimes assume:

Nobody is buying houses during the holidays.

But think about who's actually looking at homes in November and December.

Someone relocating for work isn't necessarily waiting until spring.

A family whose current house sold needs somewhere to live.

A buyer whose lease ends soon has a timeline.

Someone who has been searching for months may still be waiting for the right property.

Life doesn't stop because Hobby Lobby put Christmas decorations out. 😂🎄

The Millers may have fewer people casually wandering through their home...

but some of the buyers who ARE looking may have a very real reason to move.

☕ Meanwhile... The Johnsons Decide to Wait

The Johnsons say:

“Nope. We want to enjoy the holidays. We'll list in January.”

Perfectly reasonable.

They decorate.

Have Thanksgiving.

Celebrate Christmas.

Ring in the New Year.

Then January arrives.

They call me.

“Okay, we're ready!”

Now we prepare the house and put it on the market.

Could that work beautifully?

Absolutely.

January can bring buyers who have decided:

THIS is the year we're moving.

New year.

New goals.

New job.

New baby coming.

New chapter.

There can be real motivation on that side too.

So...

who made the right decision?

🤷‍♀️ Plot Twist: They BOTH Might Have

I know.

Not nearly as satisfying as me declaring a winner. 😂

But that's real estate.

There isn't a magical date when selling suddenly becomes “right.”

The better question isn't:

November or January?

It's:

What makes the most sense for YOUR situation?

🎄 When Listing BEFORE the Holidays Could Make Sense

Let's go back to the Millers.

Their home was ready.

They already knew they wanted to move.

They weren't hosting 37 relatives for Christmas.

😂

And they were comfortable accommodating showings.

Why wait solely because the calendar says November?

Depending on what's happening in their particular Wichita price range and area, there may also be fewer competing listings than during traditionally busier seasons.

And there's another advantage people forget...

Holiday homes can feel AMAZING.

Warm lights.

Fireplace going.

Tasteful Christmas tree.

Cozy living room.

Beautiful dining area.

A buyer walks in and suddenly imagines:

Christmas morning here. ❤️🎄

That's emotion.

And real estate has plenty of emotion involved.

🦃 But What If Your Holidays Are CHAOS?

Now let's say you're hosting Thanksgiving.

Your sister is staying for four days.

Your adult children are coming home.

There are six grandkids.

Two dogs.

Someone is sleeping on an air mattress.

And you have approximately 47 presents hidden in the primary closet.

😂😂😂

Maybe listing November 18 isn't your best life choice.

And THAT'S OKAY.

Selling a house doesn't have to make your life miserable.

We could use November and December to prepare instead.

Declutter gradually.

Handle small repairs.

Start packing things you don't need.

Talk about pricing.

Get a plan together.

Then when January arrives?

We're ready.

Waiting can be strategic too.

❄️ “But Don't Houses Look Terrible in Winter?”

Not necessarily.

Will your grass be bright green?

Probably not.

Will your trees have gorgeous leaves?

Nope.

It's Kansas. 😂

But buyers understand seasons.

A good photographer knows how to photograph a home appropriately.

And the inside of a house can show beautifully in winter.

Clean.

Bright.

Warm.

Inviting.

You don't have to wait for flowers to bloom before your house is worthy of being photographed.

💰 “Will I Get More Money If I Wait Until Spring?”

Ohhh, I wish I had a crystal ball.

🔮😂

No Realtor can honestly promise you exactly what your home will be worth months from now.

Prices can change.

Mortgage rates can change.

Inventory can change.

Buyer demand can change.

Your personal circumstances can change.

That's why I don't love the strategy:

“We'll wait because the market will definitely be better later.”

Maybe it will.

Maybe it won't.

Instead, let's evaluate what we actually know when you're considering selling.

What are similar homes doing?

What's currently for sale?

How much competition would you have?

What is your timeline?

Where are you going next?

Those answers matter much more than guessing what might happen several months from now.

🎁 There's Also a Secret Option #3

You don't have to choose between:

LIST TOMORROW

and

DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING UNTIL JANUARY.

There's a third option.

Prepare now.

This is one of my favorite strategies for homeowners who think they may sell after the holidays.

Have me come over.

We'll walk through the house.

We'll identify what needs attention.

Then instead of spending January freaking out...

you already know.

Maybe November is decluttering.

December is enjoying your family.

January is final preparation and photos.

Now THAT sounds much better to me. 🙌

🏡 So Which Homeowner Are You?

Are you a Miller?

“We're ready. Let's just DO this.”

Or are you a Johnson?

“Jen, I love you, but nobody is walking through this house until Christmas is OVER.”

😂🎄

Either answer is completely fine.

My job isn't to force your life into a real estate calendar.

My job is to figure out how real estate fits into your life.

Sometimes that means selling during the holidays.

Sometimes it means waiting.

Sometimes it means quietly preparing now so you're ready later.

❤️ Before You Decide to Wait, Let's At Least Talk

This is the one thing I'd encourage you to do.

Don't automatically decide:

“Nobody buys houses during the holidays, so we'll call a Realtor in January.”

Call me before then.

Let's look at your specific home.

Your Wichita neighborhood.

Your price range.

Your competition.

Your timeline.

And your holiday plans.

Then we can make the decision based on your situation, not an old real estate rule someone told you 20 years ago.

Because there may be a perfectly good reason to wait.

Or...

you might discover there's no reason to wait at all. 🏡❤️

Jennifer Timmermeyer
Realtor® | Real Broker, LLC
Owner | Design with Jen

Serving Wichita, Kansas and surrounding communities.

The best time to sell isn't a month on the calendar. It's the time that makes sense for YOU. 🏡🎄