December 14, 2006--Though the housing market traditionally turns frosty between Thanksgiving and New Year's some experts contend that listing your house during the holidays has some advantages and could bring sellers the gift of a closing if they're willing to make adjustments.

Typically, the best months to sell are June through August when about 30% to 33% of total sales for the year occur, says Kevin Thorpe, an economist with the National Association of Realtors. The holidays and cold weather make December through February the worst time. Only about 17% to 19% of sales happen during that period.

With the recent cooling off in the housing market - in some areas, home values have fallen as much as 10% or more - if you have your house on the market right now, you may feel as if the deck is stacked against you. But that doesn't have to be the case if you use the holidays - and incentives - to your advantage.

Most people wait to list their homes in January and February, says Dale Mattison, a realtor for The Mattison Group at Long & Foster Realtors in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

"So for sellers who want to take advantage of those dynamics, they should list their homes now," Mattison says.

If you want to sell your house this holiday season try these strategies:

Set the mood. Spruce up your home with holiday decorations and give refrigerators, kitchen cabinets, carpets, and windows a thorough cleaning, says JoAnne Poole, owner of Poole Realty in Glen Burnie, Maryland. Even if you're doing those things to make the home neater for holiday parties, they [also] make houses more enticing to buyers. "A home has more emotional appeal to many buyers during the holidays," Poole says. Make sure your house is very clean, decorated, and well organized. In this season, Poole says people shopping for homes are serious, motivated buyers, so making the best possible impression will go a long way. "When people come through the home, you want to make sure they're happy with what they see," Poole says.

Offer incentives. If you're a motivated seller, offering incentives can help in any season, but can be particularly helpful during slow times like the holidays and winter months. Consider paying closing costs or providing moving fees for buyers relocating [to the area]. "You have to look at those incentives to be competitive," says Clifford Turner, president of Turner Realty and Management in Louisville, Kentucky, and president of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, a trade group for minority real estate agents.

Showcase special features. Make sure your home is warm and inviting for showings. Consider baking a holiday pie or having cider steaming on the stove and available for potential buyers; if you have a fireplace and it's cold out, light a fire when showing the house, suggests the National Association of Realtors. When the fireplace is not lit, keep the area clean.

Sweat the small stuff. Keep the thermostat at a comfortable setting to keep buyers from feeling a chill as they walk through your home, according to the National Association Realtors. As winter days get darker, indoor lighting is also important. Turn on lights, keep windows clean, and let natural light in to help brighten your home. Maintain curb appeal. Make sure the yard is free of debris such as fallen leaves or dead branches. Keep the walkway and sidewalks clear of snow.