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Home Staging Tips in Palm Beach County- 4 Tips to Help You Decorate for the Holidays.

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Home Stager
Home Staging Tips in Palm Beach County- 4 Tips to Help You Decorate for the Holidays!

Everyone loves the holidays … it’s a chance to have some fun with our homes and celebrate with the traditions we’ve carried with us since our childhood.   And with children in the family, it’s hard not to want to decorate as you’ve always done. However, keep in mind that the same ideas for staging your home also apply to holiday decorations.
wreath
 


Here are some tips that will help you have a great holiday but will also allow your home to be seen by a Buyer.

1. Your Front Door- If you place a wreath on your front door make sure it is not so large that it becomes awkward for a Buyer entering your house.  Keep it simple, even a fresh green wreath can be festive.
    If your wreath is too large or cumbersome, try a colorful plant such as a large poinsettia by the front door.  
      

2. Outdoor Decorations- It is best to save your giant blow-up Santa-in-a-christmas lightsSnow Globe for next year.  The same goes for all of the little candy canes and flashing lights.  Remember, during the day when your house is being shown, these items just look like clutter on your lawn.

This doesn’t mean you can’t put up any lights, in fact Buyers often drive by homes that are on their short list for consideration at night.  Carefully placed lights outlining your door or the architecture can help it stand out for them.

3. Christmas Trees-  Think Staging…. If your tree is so tall it blocks a path or the view, it’s time to consider something smaller.  If moving your furniture around to make room for the tree interrupts the traffic flow or creates a furniture arrangement that doesn’t make sense consider a smaller or table top tree.

4.  Decorations- Keep these to a minimum and remember- use them to enhance the area.  In addition, consider the colors you use.  For example, many of the homes in decorSouth Florida use a lot of light pink and green or pastel color themes.  It is a reflection of our outdoors and sunny climate.  However most Christmas decorations are in Christmas red.   Try using colors that will not clash with your color scheme.

You do not have to place a holiday decoration on every wall or flat space.  Pick focal areas such as a mantle, entry table, kitchen island or sofa table.  Place a grouping of 3 candlesticks , pillar holders or hurricanes on your entry table.
Add dried cranberries in the bottom of a hurricane  then place a pillar candle in the cranberries.   Fill a tall hurricane sleeve with ornaments of the same color, for example.

The same principles that apply to Staging your home for sale will apply to decorating it for the holidays.  Lots of little collectibles everywhere will only serve to distract the Buyer.  

Staging Your Home for the Holidays can help get you in the mood especially during the stressful time of trying to sell your house.  Just remember to keep it simple!
 
 
(Previously featured in Roomservicehomestaging.com)

Posted by

Kathy Streib
Retired Home Stager
and Interior Redesign

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Comments (21)

Ellen Dittman
Watson Realty Corp. - Middleburg, FL
#1 Stop for NE FLA-JAX/OP 904.535.1199 (TEXT OK) r

Kathy, these are very good tips. Some sellers can definately benefit from the holiday decor if done right.

Nov 26, 2011 12:01 AM
Cathy Criado
Criado Realty - San Antonio, TX
Making Real Estate Profitable

Kathy, I had not given that any thought. Thanks for enlightening me and I will share with my sellers. Print page - lol!

Nov 26, 2011 12:03 AM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Good morning, Kathy....this is my favorite time of the year....I have my trees up and decorations all set inside....haven't done outside yet....fall clean up was just done yesterday by the landscape people....no more leaves!! the seasons were confused this year.

Nov 26, 2011 12:13 AM
Marco Giancola
Beachfront Realty - Miami Beach, FL
Realtor (305)608-1922, Miami Beach Florida

Good morning Kathy-what a beautiful day we are having so far! Good tips but now I have a question for you. What would you do with a huge all glass front door? I don't want to spray that frost like stuff all over it and can't nail anything to it (obviously:)

Nov 26, 2011 12:36 AM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

It is always nice seeing some of the decorations others put out............and then there are those that go into OVER KILL mode.........that is just scary!

Nov 26, 2011 12:42 AM
Sharon Lee
Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN
Retired and loving life

Kathy-These are excellent tips. Some folks go crazy with decorations and it just isn't as pretty. Hope you and your family had a great Thanksgiving.

Nov 26, 2011 12:59 AM
Joanna Cohlan
Fresh Eyes For Your Home - Chappaqua, NY
Designing, Decorating & Staging Westchester Homes

Kathy, Great tips-too much of anything is overkill and I've seen some really tacky decorations-a few lights and some lovely berries, strategically placed, add color, warmth and spirit.

 

Nov 26, 2011 02:04 AM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

Pretty clever those Chinese.............great post BARFF, you always have the best ideas.

 

Nov 26, 2011 02:15 AM
John McCormack, CRS
Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM
Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

Staging Your Home for the Holidays can help get you in the mood especially during the stressful time of trying to sell your house.  Just remember to keep it simple!

Excellent advice Kathy! Suggested.

Nov 26, 2011 02:59 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Ellen- selling is stressful enough.  Sometimes just being able to add some holiday decorations can make it a little easier.  But... it's a good idea not to overdo it. 

Cathy- So many people have their decorations already out or will use Thanksgiving weekend to get ready.  Try to head them off  before every Santa, candy cane and big red bow is all over the house.

BarbaraT- now why does it not surprise me that your house is already decorated!  How about sharing a pic!

Marco- I'd forget about a wreath and have 1 or 2 large colorful plant by the door.  Let your buyers begin to see what's inside as they walk up.  You can decorate the plants by the door.  Perhaps 2 Norfolk Island Pines. 

Barbara-Jo- as much as I love driving around looking at Christmas lights, during the day they look just like a bunch of stuff in the yard.  

Sharon- thank you... Hope you had a good Thanksgiving as well.  I'm stuffed and had to walk extra today. 

Joanna- I agree.  I'd rather see one larger decoration tastefully done and not all of the smaller little objects.

BARFF- you decorating this year?

John- Thanks for the suggest.  You getting ready for the holidays?

Nov 26, 2011 03:34 AM
Debbie Walsh
SHAHAR Management - Middletown, NY
Hudson Valley NY Real Estate 845.283-3036

Great tips Kathy.  You always want to keep it simple but elegant when your house is on the market.  Have a wonderful holiday season!

Nov 26, 2011 03:51 AM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

Not sure BARFF, not motivated yet.

Nov 26, 2011 04:16 AM
Stefanie Cohen
Coldwell Banker Realty - Boynton Beach, FL
"I Love to Sell Real Estate and it Shows"

Kathy - Thanks for the great tips! South Florida is certainly unique during the holidays....I love the the palm trees lit up.....so pretty!!

Nov 26, 2011 08:39 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

And please, please remove soon after Christmas...decorations become far less attractive once the holiday is over!

I just started decorating today...not really into it.  I'm hoping the spirit hits me tomorrow when I continue.

Nov 26, 2011 01:28 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Debra- hi and yes.. keeping it simple is the way to go.

BARFF- I don't do as much as I used to.

Stefani- so do I.  When we moved here years ago, I wasn't sure if I'd be able to get in the Christmas spirit but once the plam trees were lit and after I saw my first boat parade, I was all set.

David- I remember our first year here.  My husband was so busy at work, I decided to put lights on a small palm  tree we had out front.  I'd never handled the lights.. that was his job.  So, I got the lights on then realized I'd started with the wrong end.  

Sharon- We were so busy couldn't get it done today... and it was in the 80's outside.  Tough to think about Christmas.

Nov 26, 2011 01:56 PM
Lou Ludwig
Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Kathy

Thanks for sharing the outstanding home staging and decorating tips for the holidays.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Nov 26, 2011 02:30 PM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

Ah yes...the giant blow up santa in the snow globe. Almost as lovely as the giant blow up turkey on the lawn down the street.

Nov 26, 2011 03:18 PM
Marco Giancola
Beachfront Realty - Miami Beach, FL
Realtor (305)608-1922, Miami Beach Florida

Thanks for the suggestion Kathy-I think it will be lighted palm trees for me this year if I ever get motivated:)

Nov 27, 2011 12:38 AM
Beth Lester
Beth Lester Designs - Torrance, CA
Home Staging & Interior Decorating

Well-said, Kathy.  I do believe that tasteful and reserved holiday decorating makes a home even more "homey," and grabs those December buyers immediately.

Nov 29, 2011 04:21 AM
Kim Gaston
RE/MAX Advantage Realty - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs REALTOR®, CNE (719)661-6987

Great post, Kathy. The door, a modest tree and your dining room table is a good rule for holiday decorating. Pictures can be soon dated, so a few back-up photos "sans" the decorating are helpful, if needed, in January.  

Dec 02, 2011 03:05 AM