Below is a guest blog I wrote for the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors news website PAR Just Listed. If you are selling your home this holiday season, follow my advice to make sure your home is the star of the show- not your seasonal decor.
Showcase your home during the holidays
Monday, December 7, 2009 By Kate Hart
You don't have to act like the Grinch to make sure your home is show ready during the holiday season. Instead, follow these simple suggestions to showcase your home's selling features and celebrate at the same time:
Let your home be the star of the show, not your lawn ornaments.
It may be fun to pull a Clark Griswold and cover your entire roof with brightly colored Christmas lights and the front yard with giant blow up sculptures but remember that curb appeal is important and buyers will make their initial decision on whether or not to buy your home based on their first impression. Instead, opt for simple and classic greenery and white lights. A wreath on the front door, small evergreens in urns and some garland along the fence post will keep your home festive but not overwhelm buyers.
When it comes to holiday décor, less is more.
You want buyers to appreciate the space your home offers, not your nutcracker collection that requires shoving the sofa up against the wall. Pick one key area per room to decorate and create a focal point that will capture the buyer's eye. In the living room add some garland to the fireplace and some seasonal colored candles. In the dining room, add a festive centerpiece and keep the sideboard streamlined. Set up your tree or menorah in the family room but forgo the additional items you normally display.
Once the guests leave, so do the decorations.
As soon as the holidays are over, get your home back to its show ready state as soon as possible. Resist the temptation to let the stacks of gifts linger in the living room and the tree stay up past the New Year. Buyers have time off from work during the holidays and if they're shopping for a home they'll make it a priority to get out there and look- hopefully at yours!
Kate, this is great advice. I guess that means I can't leave my Christmas lights on my house all year! lol
Thanks for the post today. I liked it.
Patricia
Thank you for your great insight Kate... always on target. ;)
OH Kate, wonderful post. I just had to go to a home being staged and tell them gently...too much...as far as the Christmas decorations...and stuff. SO, very appropo
Always good advice. Thanks and good to see you here.
In our area, a house for sale with too many X-mas decorations would be bad. Christmas is too religious in one direction....We have so many buyers that would be offended by this one sided decoration.
I like the "when the guests leave so do the decorations" that's a great way to put it!
Nicely written Kate! Holiday decorations are fine to a point...but when selling your home, this is an excellent guide for sellers to follow!
I like the way you cut right to the chase. Very concise advice.
Excellent advice to sellers. It's always a nice thing when they "get it", and we don't need to keep pushing for their own good.