The festive period has crept up quickly this year, with Christmas decorations appearing in shops from as early as September. And while we all might think it’s madness, as the saying goes, the early bird really does catch the worm.
However, the situation for high street estate agents can be very different to that of high street retailers. As Christmas approaches, there is often a slowdown in new instructions, with the wheels already in motion for those home movers wanting to be in before the year is out.
That means all the more reason for you to be the early bird too, maintaining contact with your target market and keeping your agency front of mind over the Christmas period.
Once the festivities are over and people start to think about the new year ahead, you want to be their first port of call if they’re thinking of moving home.
So, what can you do to build relationships and brand awareness this Christmas?
Spread a little Christmas cheer and reinforce tradition with printed Christmas cards branded with your agency’s logo.
A study by Royal Mail Marketreach found that once mail reaches the living room, it attracts the most attention compared to other household locations. [1]
And given that the nature of a Christmas card is to be displayed, it is even more likely to take pride of place in the home, giving your brand a good shelf life over the winter months.
In the same study, respondents voiced that they feel: “if the company has invested in printing… it means they are quite committed.”
So don’t hide behind your email inbox, sending generic Christmas wishes to the masses.
Couple the physical quality of a printed Christmas card with handwritten wishes from your agency, and you will really strike a chord with your local community. It’s a tangible and personal engagement that feels human and evokes a real connection.
Ravensworth’s 2025 Christmas card collection includes a range of professionally designed templates that can be easily customised with your logo and festive message.
Many potential buyers and sellers might not be actively browsing the portals in November or December, but that doesn’t mean they’re not thinking about a move.
A well-timed Christmas direct mail campaign can help you reach these homeowners before the new year rush. Messages like “Thinking of moving in 2026?” or “Make a fresh start this January” are timely and relevant, helping position your agency front and centre as the local expert.
Direct mail holds real value with recipients and is a high-attention marketing channel.
While retailers are inundating inboxes and social media feeds with Christmas discounts and exclusive offers, take advantage with an addressed direct mailer.
On average, direct mail commands 108 seconds of attention, which dwarfs the less than 2-second attention thresholds for most social display advertising. [1]
Addressed mail has 45% more interactions than partially or unaddressed mail, and it stays in the home for an average of 8 days, offering huge potential to capture a homeowner’s attention multiple times. [2]
A Christmas direct mail campaign is an effective and timely way to raise brand awareness and position your agency as the go-to experts for next year’s home movers.
With Ravensworth’s ready-to-go festive templates or bespoke design options, you can send targeted, addressed mailers that deliver results.
You could (and should) go on to reinforce your Christmas marketing with the same designs and messaging in your email marketing and on social media to increase reach and impact.
Studies show that previous exposure to a direct mail piece increases the effectiveness of a subsequent social media ad by making it more memorable and engaging.
Memory encoding for social media advertising is 44% higher when people have seen mail first. And, when primed by mail, people spend 30% longer looking at the corresponding social ads. [3]
By turning your Christmas cards or direct mail campaign into a matching email signature, engaging eCards or animated social media GIFs, you’re building a multi-channel marketing campaign geared for greater success.
Christmas marketing isn’t all about tinsel and cheer; it’s also a time to get smart with your strategy. Use the run-up to Christmas to:
• Reconnect with your community
• Strengthen relationships with landlords and vendors
• Build awareness ahead of the January surge
• Showcase your agency’s personality
Tie all your festive efforts together with “mulled wine and mince pie” open evenings to bring your community into the branch, and coincide them with your local late-night shopping days to increase footfall.
While moving home might not be at the top of the Christmas list, a warm and welcoming environment where potential vendors can discuss their plans for the new year and ask for your advice will go a long way toward winning that listing.
Branded wrapping paper, baubles or make your own Christmas crackers are a creative way to get your agency noticed, both in-branch and beyond.
Use branded wrapping paper and crackers for festive gifts, giveaways or hampers, and hang branded baubles in your window displays or gift them at festive open evenings.
These small details will make your agency feel approachable, community-focused and full of festive spirit.
The Christmas months are an ideal time to prepare your prospecting lists and grow your social media following for the new year. Running a Christmas competition is a good way to build both.
You could take a “join our mailing list for your chance to win” approach, instigate a photo-sharing competition to find the most festive house in your area or go with a simple “like and share for your chance to win a Christmas hamper” engagement initiative.
Every interaction helps!
When the decorations come down, next year’s calendars come out and diaries start to fill up. Branded calendars and diaries are a subtle but powerful way to keep your agency visible in homes and offices long after the festive period.
Add your logo, contact details and local imagery for marketing pieces that are both practical and nice to look at, keeping your name on display 365 days a year.
At Ravensworth, we help estate agents combine creativity with actual results, from print and design to digital marketing and campaign planning.
So whether you’re ordering your Christmas cards and branded baubles, sending a festive direct mailer, or looking ahead to next year’s pipeline, we’re here to help.
Browse our Christmas template collections, or speak to us about bespoke options.
