Real Estate Matters
By Elisa Jo Eagan
One of the many delights of the holiday season is decorating your home. From a cornucopia and pumpkins for Thanksgiving to a Douglas fir and lights for Christmas or a menorah for Hanukkah, decorating can bring a joyous feeling to any home. However, if you are selling your home around the holidays, you may want to practice moderation when choosing your holiday decor. Use these tips to decorate your house while being mindful of your home sale.
Limit clutter
While some people enjoy the holidays as an opportunity to decorate every nook and cranny of their home, it is best to keep things to a minimum. A significant focus of staging is to remove clutter to make your home appear as spacious as possible. Select a few pieces of festive flair to bring the holiday spirit into your home, and leave the rest in storage this year. If you need help choosing decorations, you should avoid anything with names or photos. Personalized items can make it difficult for homebuyers to see themselves living in your home.
Don’t block natural light
You should highlight how much natural light your home receives while selling it, so make sure to avoid placing any decorations in front of windows or doors. If you are limited in the amount of space you have, you can place an item in these areas, but be mindful of how it is positioned to maintain the flow of light throughout the room.
Coordinate colors
Certain colors instantly come to mind when you think of the holidays. You may choose to accent with the classic red and green for Christmas, or silver, gold, white, or even blue. However, it is important to keep your home as visually appealing as possible, so avoid decorations that clash with the current color scheme of the rooms in your home.
Accentuate features
If you need help deciding where to place decorations when selling your home, start with some of the best features. This could include a holiday-inspired garland for your mantel or mistletoe hanging from an arched doorway. However, you should make sure decorations don’t hide any feature that you love. For example, don’t hang seasonal decorations in a window with a spectacular view of your backyard.
Avoid movement and sound
Some holiday decorations come to life with flashing lights, moving parts, and festive music. However, these items can be distracting when potential buyers visit your home. While you don’t necessarily need to eliminate these items from your decorating, just be sure to turn them off before a showing.
Keep things fresh
Adding plants to your home is a common way to decorate for the holidays, but it takes some extra attention to keep them looking lively. If you are decorating with poinsettias, keep an eye on them and make sure to regularly water and care for them and for any plants that you bring inside for the holidays to keep them looking good and lively.
Avoid large decorations
Try to limit your decorating to pieces that positively highlight the size and charm of the room. For example, a lush tree can be the ultimate sign that Christmas is on its way. However, you may want to opt for a smaller tree when your home is for sale. While large trees bring a festive feel to your home, they may also make a room appear smaller and cramped.
Decorate the exterior
If part of your holiday decorating includes the outside of your home, don’t be afraid to keep up that tradition. Exterior decorating can boost your home’s curb appeal. However, exterior decorating can have its limitations, and you should avoid large decorations that take attention away from the aesthetic of your home. You may want to decorate with a beautiful welcoming wreath on your front door, a few strands of white lights, and a lovely red ribbon on your mailbox, keeping your home classic, festive, warm, and welcoming for the holidays.
By creating a cheerful feel on the outside and inside of your home, potential buyers will be able to envision themselves owning your home, living in it, and having their own traditions and celebrations in your home for many happy years to come.
For real estate information and advice, contact Elisa Jo Eagan, the “Real Estate Godmother,” at 609-703-0432. Learn more at www.therealestategodmother.com.
For More Real Estate Questions, Information and Advice Contact Elisa Jo Eagan “The Real Estate Godmother” (609)703-0432 and Remember…”There’s No Place Like Owning Your Own Home!”
