It might seem like the holidays, November through January, would not be a good time to sell or buy a home.  While it's true that the holiday season can be  stressful enough without added distractions, don't rule out the unique opportunities that the season provides.  Here are a few examples. 

Because the holidays are so hectic many choose not to sell during this time.  This provides a less competitive time to place your home on the market.  It can be a particularly good opportunity in a popular area or a hot market and give you a step-up in showing your home. 

Speaking of showing your home, the holiday season can be the best time to make yours feel warm, cozy and inviting.  The smell of the tree or fresh cookies baking can make visions of sugar plums dance in the heads of potential buyers.  Curb appeal can also be enhanced with candles, lights and tasteful decorations.  In fact your entire block will probably be at its best and make home shoppers fall in love with the inviting appearance of your neighborhood. 

Finally, many businesses transfer personnel at the end of the year and folks might have to find a place to live or sell their home quickly.  If you're in the market for a home you might find a great bargain from someone that has to move quickly, or conversely you might be able to get more from your sale from a someone that needs to find a home quickly.  
In any case, the Winter might not seem like the optimal time to be in the market at first glance, but it certainly does offer some unique opportunities.  If you simply give it some thought and confer with a professional, you can take advantage of those opportunities. 

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We live in a time where digital photos are everywhere.  Take Instragram, Snapchat, Facebook and of course Pinterest as prime social media examples of where photos are instant forms of communication.  It's because of these social networks that consumers demand a visually appealing online presence.

According to the National Association of Realtors, nine out of 10 home shoppers begin their search on the Web.  Due to this listing photos can play a major role in how quickly your home sells, the home price it's listed at and of course even if it  sells at all. "Photography is at the center of all your marketing," says Brian Balduf, chairman of VHT, ..."It's not just documenting that there is a house for sale. You want people to say, 'What a house,' " and be motivated enough to take action.

Research done by Redfin, a real-estate brokerage firm based out of Seattle, Washington shows that listings of homes with photos taken by professionals have about 61% more views than listings without—and that's across all price tiers.  In addition, research from the National Association of Realtors, indicates that 98% of home buyers who searched for a home online said photos were among the most useful features of real-estate websites.

"When people are searching for homes, they search by price range, location [and the numbers of bedrooms and bathrooms]. But then once they have the list, the visual piece becomes a larger and more important part of the decision," says Jani Strand, spokeswoman for Redfin. "Photos are the first impression, and can generate interest and excitement, which leads to good offers."

In a study across 22 markets, Redfin found that homes priced between $200,000 and $1 million sold for an average of $3,400 to $11,200 more than their list prices when professionally photographed...