It's the week of Thanksgiving and the holiday decorations are coming out. Joy is in the air! And then I read this great article in Realtor Magazine about holiday decorations while your home is on the market. They had some good tips that I'd like to share with all of you.
Now if your home is on the market - or you're considering selling your home during the holiday season - there is nothing to be hesitant about. Many people discourage homeowners from putting their home on the market during the holiday season. Yes, there are times of the year when buying is more hot than others but people need homes throughout the year, so don't stress too much about it. And you don't have to avoid holiday décor just because your house is on the market. In fact, it can warm your house to potential buyers and help them imagine themselves living there and enjoying the house as their own to make memories in.
Realtor Magazine offered six "principles" to holiday staging in their article. I'm highlighting the three I thought were the best but all of them were helpful and the full article can be found here.
1. Don't overdo the holiday cheer.
The article joked that "when Santas start to outnumber the rooms in the house, you may want to start being more selective in what you display." But the sentiment is right on. As I said before, you don't need to avoid holiday décor . . . but keep it to limited tasteful items. I have a neighbor who has an inflatable Homer Simpson Santa on his roof every year. That might be something that would distract a potential homebuyer from looking at your house, which is what you want them to be focusing on when they take a tour.
As for the inside of the house, less is more and you will want to continue to keep clutter to a minimum (often difficult with too many holiday decorations). The article suggests temporarily packing away an everyday item for every holiday décor item that you put on display. This will help you from overdoing the holiday cheer and allow the buyer to focus on the house itself.
2. Stage for the senses.
I, personally, enjoy the sounds and scents of the holiday season. And I was pleased to learn that "Christmas music - mixed with holiday scents - has been shown to boost people's attitudes in retail stores and increase their likelihood of wanting to visit them." It offers a sense of home - which is what you're aiming for when selling your house. Therefore, playing a mix of traditional holiday music can be a bonus when having your house on the market during the holidays. Stick with traditional tunes that are mostly instrumental as offer an soft undertone of the holidays.
As for scents, candles, potpourri or oil that are created for the holiday season can add a really nice touch to the touring experience. So don't be shy - fill your house with pleasant holiday scents.
Read more about "Staging your Phoenix home during the holidays," at MyPhoenixmls.com
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