Welcoming the New Year homebuyers: A whimsical guide to positioning your house for sale after January 1

By Korey Welch, Owner of Boom Realty 
and Senior Mortgage Broker, Loan Factory

Ah, the New Year – the season of fresh starts, new gym memberships, ambitious decluttering sprees, and, for many eager buyers, the perfect time to find a home that feels like a clean slate wrapped in siding and sensible square footage. As a real estate broker, you know that once the glitter settles from the New Year’s Eve confetti, the market resets in a wonderfully predictable way: Buyers are back, motivated, and ready to trade resolutions for real estate.
So how do you position your listing to shine brighter than a disco ball at midnight? Here’s your delightfully whimsical roadmap to kicking off a successful post-holiday sale.

  1. Don’t let a commission Grinch steal your New Year (or your nest egg). Before you stage a single room, make sure you’re not letting a commission Grinch swipe your hard-earned equity. Thanks to the recent NAR lawsuit changes, listing and buyer agent commissions are now separate, yet many big-name real estate offices are charging upward of 3% just to list your home, and that’s before a buyer’s agent is even in the picture. For seniors and anyone on a fixed income, that’s no small lump of coal.
    Here’s the good news: You have choices. I charge just a 1% listing commission, saving sellers tens of thousands of dollars while still providing full, professional service. The New Year is about fresh starts, not outdated commission structures quietly stealing your Christmas and your peace of mind.
  2. Declare a “resolution-ready” home. Lean into the season. Everyone has resolutions; even houses can have them! Frame your listing as “ready for a fresh start” or “renewed and refreshed for 2026.” Encourage the seller to spruce up with intention – minor repairs, freshly touched-up paint, decluttered rooms, and a few stylish organizing bins can transform the home into the poster child for new beginnings. Buyers love feeling like they’re walking into a clean chapter, not someone else’s forgotten goals.
  3. Let there be (winter) light. It may be a darker time of year, but that doesn’t mean your listing has to brood like a moody poet. Replace dim bulbs, open blinds, and if the house is short on sun, add warm, cheerful lighting. Lamps with soft-white bulbs create an inviting glow that whispers, “stay a while – maybe forever.” Pro tip: Avoid lighting that resembles an interrogation suite. Buyers should feel soothed, not confess-y.
  4. Embrace the cozy factor. Winter showings offer a superpower that spring and summer homes simply cannot: Coziness. Play it up! If there’s a fireplace, make sure it’s staged with logs, even if they’re decorative. Soft throw blankets (tastefully draped, not “college dorm crumpled”), textured pillows, and a subtle seasonal scent like vanilla or pine create an atmosphere that wraps buyers in a warm hug. Just don’t overdo the cinnamon. You want welcoming, not gingerbread ambush.
  5. Stage rooms with real-life intent. New Year’s is “goal season,” so stage rooms with subtle aspirational cues. A neatly arranged desk with a planner can whisper productivity. A reading nook with a cozy chair murmurs self-care. A tidy mudroom suggests organization. Plant these little seeds and let buyer imaginations sprout wildly.
  6. Tidy up the curb appeal – yes, even in January. Bare shrubs and crunchy snow do not excuse neglect. Ensure walkways are clear, driveways safe, and the front door freshly cleaned or painted. A winter wreath (tastefully neutral – avoid something announcing “We forgot to take this down since December”) creates charm and signals care.
  7. Price for momentum, not sentiment. Post-holiday buyers are serious buyers. They’ve survived December, made their budgets, and are ready to act. Price the home competitively to generate early-year excitement. A well-positioned listing can build buzz quickly, with the added bonus that there’s less competition in early winter.
    The bottom line: Selling a home after New Year’s is about offering buyers a sense of possibility – a charming reset button wrapped in comfort and practicality. With the right staging, the right presentation, and a sprinkle of seasonal delight, you can turn a quiet winter month into a bright opportunity.
    After all, nothing says “New Year, New You” quite like “new home.”
    Choosing a senior housing option is a significant decision that requires careful consideration of personal preferences, health needs, and financial factors. As a 25-year veteran of both the mortgage and real estate industries, I understand the complexities involved in making these transitions. My goal is to help individuals and families make informed decisions that promote quality of life, independence, and peace of mind throughout the aging journey.
    If you’re considering selling a home as part of this process, I offer professional real estate services at a listing commission of just 1% – a structure that can save sellers tens of thousands of dollars. I’m here to help every step of the way.
    Korey Welch, Owner of Boom Realty and Senior Mortgage Broker (NMLS: 14991) with Loan Factory (NMLS: 320841), is a licensed mortgage broker/real estate broker based in Rockland. For more than two decades, Korey has been helping seniors determine the best fit. For a complimentary consultation, contact him at korey@koreywelch.com, 781-367-3351.
    If you have questions about building an ADU, navigating local zoning, or how it might affect your property value, I’m always happy to help. As a 25-year veteran of the real estate and mortgage business, I bring deep experience and a personal touch to every conversation.