It’s that time of year when the days get shorter, the air becomes crisper, and families start to feel festive as the holiday season approaches. Your house is on the market primed and ready to sell. As neighbors begin to transform their houses into winter wonderlands, the question many sellers have is: Should I decorate my house or not?
Personally, I find twinkling lights and colorful accents make any home look cheerful and warm. But I also believe that if you are trying to sell your home, you want your buyers to be able to imagine themselves and their own holiday traditions living in your home. So don’t toss out the idea of decorating for the holidays. You just may need to reign in your holiday spirit a bit and keep decorations to a tasteful minimum. Below are some tips for how best to “deck the halls” while your home is on the market:
Remove Personalized Decorations
During the holiday season, you will want your home to appeal to a variety of home buyers, cultures and preferences. Avoid prominently featuring your personal life throughout your home. This may mean you will need to skip putting out some of your favorite family decorations, like personalized Christmas stockings, handcrafted school ornaments, religious artifacts, etc. The key is to put out enough holiday decorations to enhance your home without overwhelming or distracting home buyers.
Skip the Christmas Tree
Unless you have a great room and want to emphasize your high ceilings, it’s best to avoid putting up a tree. You risk distracting your buyers. If your tree is too small it’s reminiscent of Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree – sad and depressing. If your tree is too large, it can overpower a room and make the space feel small. You want your home to feel inviting and spacious.
Use Classic Decorations
A rooftop ablaze with bright multi-colored lights or a yard full of inflatable snowmen is certainly fun for the family but it may turn off potential buyers. It’s better to opt for simple white lights and an elegant wreath hung on the front door. You want homebuyers to imagine themselves living there not be distracted by overly-festive decorations.
Tickle their Noses
Delight homebuyers with holiday scents. Baked cookies, warm apple cider, or peppermint scented candles all add to the holiday spirit. Choose one or two scents to help set a festive scene inside your home.
Light a Fire
On a cold winter’s day, nothing says come inside and stay for a while like a warm fire burning in the fireplace. Let home buyers envision what it would feel like to spend their evenings cozied up next to the fireplace with their family and friends.
After reading these tips, if you’re still unsure about how best to present your home during the holiday season, a professional home stager can provide insights on how best to showcase your home. However, if the thought of not being able to enjoy all the holiday trimming upsets you, you can always ask your realtor to delist your home for the holiday season and start fresh again after the new year.
We don’t want to let the opportunity pass to say we appreciate our Veterans. As Veterans Day approaches, we are even more reminded of the sacrifices the men and women in the armed forces have made to keep use free. On behalf of Jacobson Realty and Home Staging, thank you for your service.
For all your real estate needs, please contact Belinda Jacobson-Loehle at Jacobson Realty and Home Staging today.
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