For sellers: Giving thanks means getting ready

There’s another reason to be grateful this holiday weekend: Thanksgiving offers a much-needed real estate respite.

As families experience the joy of togetherness (and massive overeating), few plan to traipse through New York condos or coops - nor do they want strangers witnessing their own (messy) merrymaking.

But down time doesn’t require opting out of the game.  Smart sellers can leverage the holiday lull – and the abundance of extra bodies available – to complete chores that make a coop, condo or home even more appealing.

You can still ply the eggnog, but also be proactive about:

n  Paint:  With the dark winter months upon us, a coat of light colored paint helps brighten up a dingy area.  Consider a glossy finish to impart a sense of airiness, and go for bright neutrals to give your rooms a finished look.

n  Polish:  Most people don’t appreciate the power of sparklingly clean windows.  Arm yourself with rags and glass cleaner or, even better; invest in a window-washing service. The months ahead will literally gleam.

n  Pare down:  Taking stock is a Thanksgiving tradition, and it applies to possessions as well as life plans. Size up your living space and clear the excess.  Sparsely furnished apartments and homes look bigger and brighter to prospective buyers. Clear the walls, and eliminate bulky or unnecessary furniture. The clean-up will uncover forgotten articles of clothing, unpaired shoes and countless odds and ends that may benefit someone else – just in time for the Christmas season.

n  de-Personalize:  You’ve heard it before but it bears repeating: buyers prefer to imagine  themselves living in your space. So may the dwelling less personal by taking down as many family pictures as you can, and eliminating all those awards and trophies. Don’t worry; they can festoon every wall in your new place.

n  Prune:  If you live in a house, denuded trees and scraggly bushes can curb curb appeal, so use this brief period – well before (we hope) another snow storm – to trim bushes, move fallen leaves to plant beds, and/ or add nice holiday touches to your entryway.

n  Plumb:  Track down your leaks and/or invite your friendly neighborhood plumber to do a once-over before the truly cold weather sets in. Neglected pipes have a way of bursting at the most inconvenient times - like when an eager buyer comes calling. A check up before the dog days can keep winter’s bite at bay.

n  Prep:  Once you’ve polished, plumbed and pared down, prepare to ‘stage’ your house. The holiday season provides the perfect excuse to add tasteful touches, yummy fragrances and even soft holiday music. The operative word is ‘festive’ and the operative philosophy is ‘underdo’ rather than overdo it.

n  Pick: If you haven’t already done so, use the post-turkey-day period to select the perfect realtor.  Set your sights on someone associated with an established and reputable organization.  Manhattan buyers are well-advised to seek an agent capable of reaching out to an international audience (the source of many NYC sales). Be sure to check the broker’s collateral to determine if he or she produces high-quality brochures and professional images. Ask if he or she has enough resources and budget to arrange for things like virtual staging, if necessary.

Do all these things – and next year you’ll have something worthy of a major Thanksgiving fete.