Frankly, traditional thinking couldn’t be more wrong. Noël doesn’t necessarily mean "no sell." traditional thinking is that this is a bad time to sell a house.

Sure, the holidays can be a busy, hectic and crazy winter wonderland. But it may also be an opportune time to show off your home in its best light.

Consider the following: Your house will have less competition. There are generally fewer homes on the market in December than in spring. Therefore, houses that are listed during the holidays may have greater exposure, increasing the chances of a quick sale.

December buyers may be more serious. People are looking for houses all the time because there are no seasons in a job market anymore. Companies lay off, transfer and hire employees 12 months a year. If people are looking for homes in December, it’s most likely because they need to find a home. What’s more, because of holiday time-off, families and spouses may have more time to look at houses together. They can take their time, rather than rushing back to work. And - this is a biggie - they may be eyeballing their year-end bonuses as the means to make a down payment.

Interest rates are still incredibly low. Housing markets are often driven by mortgage rates. As long as rates are low, houses will sell - even in winter.

Your house probably already looks great. The December holidays are our homestead holidays. One only needs to think of Bing Crosby, singing "I’ll be Home for Christmas," to lapse into a warm, fuzzy feeling about having a hearth and home of one’s own.

With a few tasteful holiday decorations, a warm fireplace, a Flexible Flyer posed on the hill and hot chocolate on the stove, you can have homebuyers pining for their own version of a cozy Currier and Ives lifestyle.

Of course, selling a house during the holidays is not all spiced wine and fa-la-la-la-las. The weather and the traditions can present their own set of challenges.

First of all, driveways and walks should be absolutely clear of snow and ice. It’s not enough to be merely passable. If potential buyers skid just a little in a few inches of December snow, they may begin to dread what the ordeal would be like in the heavier snows of January and February. And, of course, if they slip on the ice, you’re more likely to make an enemy than a sale.

If you don’t think you can handle the snow cleanup yourself, hire a professional. And the sooner you contract one, the better; their schedules are filling faster than driveways in a blizzard.

Second, you’ll have to be extra diligent about the extra snow, dirt, salt and sludge that visitors can track in. Keep your door mats extra clean. And consider putting down plastic runners in high-traffic areas.

If you have a fireplace, don’t let the ashes pile up. And certainly don’t let the house get too smoky!

As for decorations, this can be a sensitive issue. No one wants to put a damper on your holiday traditions, but you may have to practice a little more restraint than normal. Some buyers may not share your holiday tastes, values or beliefs. They may not be able to see through your motif of decorations and imagine how your house will look with their own special touches. So moderation is the key.

If you normally get a grand Christmas tree, try a smaller one that shows off your house better. Rather than plastering your walls with decorations and populating your tables with figurines, place a simple elegant wreath on your door ... or over the fireplace. And avoid lights, gadgets and gizmos that crowd electrical sockets.

Remember, you want to present the idyllic winter home, not Santa’s Play Land.

Too busy? Lean on your real estate agent. If you do it right, those bells you hear ringing may be the buyers calling with an offer. Or it could just be Dec. 15, National Ding-A-Ling Day, all over again.

Brad Boisvert is a real estate professional with RE/MAX Coast to Coast Properties in Portsmouth. Call him, at 431-1111, Ext. 3812 or e-mail to bradb@worldpath.com.