Holiday Strategies for Home Sellers

Decorate for the holidays in a way that’s warm and inviting, without obscuring the features of the house. Buyers who are looking now are motivated and you need to be ready for them.

When your house is on the market, it’s tempting to celebrate holidays as usual. Perhaps you think there won’t be any showings, and since it’s going to be the last holiday season you spend in the house, you want to make it memorable. While it’s true that traffic is reduced, buyers are still looking. They probably have a deadline, so they’re motivated and you need to be ready for them. The challenge is to decorate for the holidays in a way that’s warm and inviting, without obscuring the features of the house. Have a family meeting and agree on which decorations are most important. Enjoy a simpler holiday.

Here are some other holiday strategies:
•    Choose a few simple exterior decorations. Don’t put Santa and his sleigh on the roof.
•    Use only white lights. Avoid blinking or multi-colored strands.
•    Use timers on selected interior and exterior lights to go on at dusk and create an inviting scene. Turn on the entryway light on dark days.
•    Use a natural wreath or garland on the door and keep other decorations simple.
•    If you use real plants like poinsettias inside, keep them groomed and discard them when they begin to fade. Use a neutral container and remove the foil wrapping.
•    Don’t put candles or ornaments in the windows. They block light during the day and obscure the windows themselves.
•    Don’t frost the doors or windows.
•    Avoid decorations with religious symbolism. Emphasize “winter” instead.
•    Don’t use artificial snow, especially on horizontal surfaces.
•    Use only a few medium to large scale decorations.
•    Avoid small items that distract from the features of the house.
•    If you have a tree, make it smaller than usual and place it out of the way. Take it down right after the holidays.
•    If you move or remove furniture to accommodate the tree, consider making the changes permanent if they make the room look more attractive and spacious.
•    Use only selected ornaments and keep them simple.
•    Don’t pile presents under the tree or display greeting cards. They take up space and make the room look smaller.
•    Avoid heavily scented materials. Some buyers have allergies.

Smart Selling Tip:
Holiday decorations should be kept to a minimum and emphasize the season. Use natural materials and keep things simple. Stay prepared for showings as buyers who come are motivated.