Every year, we see sellers debating whether to decorate for the holiday season. If they do choose to decorate, they have to decide to what extent. If they don't decorate, they may be making a critical error in the attempt to sell their home.
My opinion is that anything that draws attention to your home is a GOOD thing! When we agents hold open houses, you don't see us choosing not to put out our open house signs. We want people to look at the house and make a decision about whether they want to visit the home or not. Same with the holidays. It's a time of year when the weather in Dallas/Fort Worth is crisp and cool. It's the perfect time of year to grab a coffee or hot cider and drive around neighborhoods looking at holiday lights. People get a little voyeuristic at this time of year. We attempt to peak inside as we drive by, if the blinds are open, and see that beautiful tree lit up inside. It's dark earlier these days, so any light in a home captures our attention.
My philosophy on selling a home in the Winter months is that you should draw attention to the home every day, and work to extend the showing window on your home into the evening. It is not a buyer's tendency (or agent's for that matter) to want to get out to show a home after dark. But, when dark comes at 5pm, I don't know a Realtor in Collin County that won't get in their car for a 6pm showing in the Winter months. There isn't much call for them, and we jump at the opportunity to stay busy in the 4th quarter. We don't typically show homes late into the evening around here, anyway. We try to be courteous of the inconveniences that showing a home creates on the family trying to attract a buyer. And, since our region is so heavily corporate, a lot (I would venture to say the majority) of agents work a traditional 9-5pm work day.
Keep in mind that exterior holiday decorating when you are trying to sell your home is VASTLY different than how you might decorate in a non-selling year. Skip the cutesy and stick to the traditional. But, be different, so your home doesn't blend in with others on the street. If everyone else is using solid white lighting out front, let your home be the one in color. If they are on the roofline, yours could be in the shrubbery. You aren't trying to blend in. You are trying to stand out (tastefully). Know your target buyer and try to appeal to them. And, keep in mind that the decorations can be seen during the day, and realize what impression that leaves. Nothing bothers me more than to drive in Prosper, or other parts of North Texas, and see deflated blow-up ornaments in a yard during the daytime. What looks cute in the evening looks like a dog's breakfast during the day when we're showing homes. Subdued, tasteful, minimal - these are your buzzwords for holiday decorating outside the home.
The interior of the home is where many people over-decorate for the holidays when they are trying to sell a home. If a tree is put up, it should be in proper scale to the room. There is nothing sadder than a Charlie Brown tree in a room with 18' ceilings. And, if your home is one in Prosper with a huge foyer - especially the rotunda foyer that just begs for a holiday tree, consider having a tree in the family room as well. People don't want to celebrate in the foyer. That tree is all about show. The big homes of Prosper, with large gamerooms, extended foyers, large family rooms, etc...just beg for multiple trees. So long as the scale is correct and the trees don't become a distraction to buyers, it helps create a bond to your home and is an asset to have in the home during showings.
Let's note that many new construction models do not put up decorations for the holidays. Many of the builders do run end-of-year sales incentive programs, but resale homes win out over new in December for warmth and appeal during the holidays. It's easier to connect on an emotional level with that home. All other times of the year, new construction models are the biggest competition to our resale home. As is true with every buyer I've ever worked with, what begins as a logical home search turns into an emotional decision on their 2nd showings. It all comes down to which house feels the most like "home".
This isn't the year to put out every piece of holiday decor you own. Your choices should be thoughtful. Staging the house is critical no matter what the time of year. Ask yourself, "will this piece help me or deter me from selling my home?" Be honest with your answer. If it isn't necessary, and won't really help, define it as unnecessary clutter, and pack away that precious family momento for next year in your new home.
Above all in December, be a clean home. Walk in your home and take a deep breath. Does it smell clean? Walk into each room, with particular attention to bathrooms, utility rooms, and closets. Does it look clean? If the answer is no, you have some chores to do. No heavy scents like candles or sprays. Just the scent of a clean, neutral environment. Oreck carries my favorite cleaner for granite countertops, and it has the light scent of vanilla cake. I use it in vacant properties and the light scent lasts for up to a week. It smells fresh, clean, and familiar. The reaction from prospective buyers has been very positive. Failing to keep the home show-ready because of the convenient excuse of the busy holiday season means that your home is more likely to be passed over, and not purchased, this December. When your home is for sale, there are two things that are just unforgiveable:
1. An unclean home.
2. A seller-cancelled showing appointment.
December is a great month in DFW and traditionally, a tremendous month for home sales. Be clean, stay available, and make wise decisions. We may just gift you with a SOLD sign rider sooner than you think.
Have a blessed day!
Ronda
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