As the holiday season falls upon us many of my clients ask me if it is appropriate to have holiday decorations displayed in their homes while they are trying to sell them. The answer is yes and no.
Helping potential buyers envision themselves living in your home is your main goal. We discuss things like removing clutter, taking down most family photographs, and staging the home so it shows buyers how their personal items can fit into the space. Similarly, having a few holiday items on display can also aide in buyers imagining how they may spend the holidays in the home.
The key here is editing. Do not go overboard with excessive amounts of decorations. Even if they are done really well they can be overly distracting. Remember, you want people looking at the home, not your decorations. Some festive pillows on the couch, a seasonal doormat, a display of gourds or greens, holiday scented candles, and a wreath on the door is appropriate and enough for Halloween and Thanksgiving. During the Christmas season keep your decorations contained primarily to one space if possible. If you have a glorious place for a Christmas tree by all means play that up. If you have a great mantle for stockings, show that. Again, pillows and candles go a long way to set the scene without being excessive.
Timing as to when you should display seasonal items is important. If at all possible, wait 7-10 days before the holiday to decorate. Similarly, remove items within a week or so of the holiday passing.
I know it can be a challenge to have your home on the market during the holidays. Keep in mind, you are looking to impress potential buyers and asking them to spend their money to purchase your home. You want to make sure they are seeing the important aspects of your home and not becoming distracted with your decorations. Perhaps it would be a good time to daydream on how you will decorate your new home!
No comments:
Post a Comment