Selling your home during the holiday season can be tough. Often homeowners pull their home off the market during this time of year. The snow, the familial obligations and other events make selling a home rather difficult during the season. However, I am here to tell you it's not impossible. If you plan on keeping your home on the market this holiday season, follow my quick guide to ensure that you have the best chance at success possible.
The do's and don'ts of holiday decorating:
It's quite common to show the holiday spirit through decorations of ghosts, bats, and witches during Halloween. When it comes to Thanksgiving and Christmas, people also choose to show their spirit with decorations. However, all these decorations can easily take away from the curb appeal of your home. Beyond so, Christmas and Hanukkah are religious holidays, and you're opening yourself up to judgment from potential buyers. When decorating for the season, take into account the neighborhood. If your house is the only house on the street with no decorations whatsoever during the holiday season, that can be equally detrimental as having too many decorations. If your neighbors decorate, follow these steps below to ensure that your decorations are tasteful, appropriate, and helpful to selling your home.
Exterior Decorating:
- Keep the entrance and walkways clear and simple. Don't put up massive amounts of garland or lights. The buyer should be able to easily see the features of the house.
- Avoid big decorations that take away from the house exterior.
- Use wreaths and other simple decorations to make your house festive and tasteful.
- Use plants and other natural elements. Pumpkins, hay bales, and poinsettias are classy and simple.
- Steer clear of using colored lights.
- Avoid religious displays.
Indoor Decorating:
- Again, keep things simple. Large displays often can distract from some of the best elements of a home.
- Set the table formally for each holiday.
- Keep within a color scheme. For example, red is great color to use for the holidays and is a warm, loving color.
- Play into each of the five senses carefully. Create an emotional attachment by burning a candle that smells of cookies or apple cinnamon.
Selling during the holidays is not impossible. In fact, it can be idea sometimes because the inventory is often low during the season. Also, more buyers are serious and wanting to move fast on the sale. Use these tips to create a loving atmosphere this holiday season, and be successful in getting that home sold!