Selling Your Home During the Holiday Season
Many homeowners believe that trying to sell their home during the holiday season is an impossible task; I disagree. Yes, it can be a little more challenging, but it is not impossible to sell your home during this time of the year. Many homeowners take their home off the market during the holiday season, which reduces your competition in the real estate marketplace. If you do decide to sell your home during the holidays, remember a few simple rules. First of all, don't over decorate your house. You don't want to turn away potential home buyers by hiding your home's valuable assets behind too many decorations. Lights hanging from the roof and inflatable outdoor decorations are taste specific - in order to appeal to the largest segment of buyers you want to keep your decorating to a minimum. If you feel the need to share your holiday spirit, remember: keep it simple, tasteful, and elegant. First impressions are lasting impressions.
Once you get them in the front door, don't send them running for the door by over doing the inside of your house. The same rule applies - keep it simple, tasteful, and elegant. Staging a home during the holidays is different from decorating your home during the holidays. Remember, clutter (no matter how attractive) is still clutter. You are showcasing your home, not your holiday collections. Your goal is to make buyers want to live in your home, to imagine their own celebrations in your house. To invoke warm fuzzy feelings try simmering cinnamon in a pot on the stove.
Christmas trees. I love Christmas trees. I love to decorate Christmas trees. I have an incredible (if I do say so myself) collection of Christmas tree decorations in a variety of color schemes and themes. I could probably open a Christmas tree shop. Do I use everything I have? Yes! BUT not at the same time. Each year I decide on my color palette and theme, then I decorate my tree using only those items. All of the other beautiful decorations I have collected over the years, get put away - once I have taken a few moments to look at them, admire them, and remember all of the wonderful memories associated with each piece. So what's my point? Don't overdue it. Just because you have an abundant collection doesn't mean you have to show it to every potential home buyer who looks at your home. You want them to admire your home (their new home) - you don't want them distracted by your exquisite collection.
And speaking of Christmas trees, select an appropriate size for your home. If the tree is too large, it will make your home look crowded and small. In this particular instance, size does matter. Make sure your tree placement is not obstructing a beautiful view, a walkway, or a door.
Keep these simple suggestions in mind and take advantage of this opportunity to sell your home during the holdiay season. Make selling your home easier by working with a professional real estate agent and a home stager - a winning team can have you in your new home faster.
Comments(8)