Staging your Home During the Holidays
You are selling your home and the holiday season is approaching. You are probably asking yourself and your realtor, should I keep it on the market during the holiday? Will anyone want to buy during this time? Can I still celebrate the holiday in my home while it's on the market? I say YES, YES, and YES!!
Decorating your home for the holiday while it is on the market can and should be done.
You do have to understand there is a fine line between your home feeling warm and inviting during the holiday season and a potential buyer walking into a winter wonderland or Santa's work shop. Don't over do it.
Here are a few tips to keep you from crossing that line and showing your house during the holidays.
Keep It Simple
Don't over crowd your home with decoration. You want potential buyers to see your homes true features. An overly decorated room will distract buyers from visualizing their own furnishing in the home. A fresh evergreen wreath decorated with a few ornaments or ribbons to welcome buyers, a tree decorated with lights and ornaments, and a few other key areas decorated in the home will work well if done properly.
Keep it Elegant
Choose a color scheme & theme wisely. Make sure the colors don't clash with the rest of the colors in your home. I suggest using the theme celebrating the winter season is the way to go. Any religious items can alienate certain buys so keep it neutral. You also want to avoid placing presents under the tree. Buyers may have children with them during a walk through. I personally do not know any children that would not be tempted to shake, take or peak at a beautifully wrapped present under a tree.
Keep it Warm
This is the perfect time to show off the warm cozy feeling of a home. Nothing says welcome home like walking into a home that is warm, offers the natural smells of the season with Cinnamon & Spice, and warmly lit by candles or a fireplace.
Keep your house warn during a showing by cranking up the thermostat to 72 degree's. Have a fire going in the fireplace, light a few candles and brew some spiced apple cider in a crockpot.
Keep it Neat
Curb appeal is just as important in the winter as it is any other time of the year. Make sure all snow is removed from walkways and driveway. Keep your outdoor lights and holiday decor to a minimum. A few simple decorations outside will do the trick. If you are one of folks that like to decorate with as many decorations as you can fit on your lawn or roof and has enough lights to be seen from outer space, DON"T DO IT!! Most people love to drive by and look in awe, but, many people don't want to live in it. Save that for your next house. Again, we want the potential buyer to visualize their own furnishings and decor in the home, not be blinded by yours.
Keep it on the market
While it is true that home sales do go down during the holiday season, homes do sell. What a better time to show off just how warm and inviting your home truly is than the holiday season.
Don't leave anything to chance. Get it right the first time by having your home professionally staged.
