I wrote a story about those selling their home during “the holidays” and the effort to make it seem a bit more festive by baking cookies, decorating and making a good impression.

Personally, I sold my house last year in January after listing it in mid-November. It closed in February, but it was first seen in December by the person who made an offer.

Did I decorate it? Yes, but I also had moved the majority of my furniture and clutter out of the house. The only decorations were a couple poinsettias, candles wrapped in artistic berries, and a set table. I took out everything but a bookcase, couch and chair, dining table and one bed. It worked for me.

Can it work for everyone? Possibly. I also listed it $10,000 less than anyone  in my neighborhood, although I still ended up forgiving another $10,000 off the price (hey, man, I wanted that thing sold and out of my hair!) In the end, I still had a tidy profit, less stress and no debt.

For many people, buying and selling during the holidays is a necessity.

Blanche Evans, author of  “Bubble, Booms, and Busts: Make Money in Any Real Estate Market,” and editor and anchorwoman of online video news service RealtyTimes, said that although some people don’t want to sell during the holidays because of family obligations, more don’t because they think there won’t be any buyers.

“You definitely have a smaller pool of buyers, but they tend to be serious,” she said.  “One thing to keep in mind … companies tend to transfer people at the first of the year. If they’re looking during the holidays, they have to make a decision quickly.”

The Fitzgeralds in the story are also looking to sell, but the market has changed a bit from last year. It’s a little harder to sell, but I still wish them luck.

Good luck to all of you selling during this time. Happy holidays one and all.