I like to post this blog around the Holidays. It's just some common sense rules about staging a home at this time of year.
If you’re listing during the holidays, it’s vital that you keep décor subtle and avoiding over-decorating or over-staging the home. Staging—the art of “merchandising” a home for sale—works best when a home is clutter-free, clean, and appeals to visitors’ senses with color, light, or natural scents.
During the holidays, it’s important to respect these basic rules of staging even though many homeowners view the holidays as an opportunity to bring out knick-knacks, religious displays, and wall-hangings. But sellers need to take precautions at this time of year so their home seems decorated and inviting, but not so personalized that buyers will think its owners are still attached to it. Whether or not you and your clients are working with a staging expert or handling the home’s staging yourselves, here are several topics to discuss in the weeks leading to Christmas, Chanukah, and New Year’s.
Does your neighborhood decorate for the holidays? Who’s your target buyer? Follow the vibe of the neighborhood, but also anticipate your target buyer. If most homes on the street decorate, it makes sense to follow suit. But if few homes decorate, choosing to be the only home with a sleigh on the roof (a staging no-no, by the way) will make your home stand out—as the one buyers may not want. If you’re appealing to families, decorating may make sense, but if you’re listing a downtown condo and expect a single buyer who might travel each holiday, Christmas décor may not be that significant.
Don't do this:
What’s at the front door? A general rule of staging is that potential buyers gather their first impressions about a home during the few seconds they stand at the front door. A small Christmas wreath made from natural plant materials—holly, evergreens, twigs—or with a few touches of red and green is fine. But large candy canes, Santa Clauses, and holiday statues are distracting. As with any front door decoration, the wreath should offset the house’s paint colors. Garlands wrapped around a front lamp may also set the stage for the holidays.
But if you want to decorate outside, this looks lovely:
Will you have a Christmas tree? Feel free, but keep the tree small or medium-sized and decorated simply, perhaps with a few sets of coordinating decorations and clear or white lights. It’s unwise to showcase presents below the tree, due to theft hazards, the appearance of clutter, and the risk of “over-personalizing” the home.
Don't do this:
But, this looks nice:
Will you decorate indoors? Avoid hanging cards, tinsel and lights across walls. But a few holiday candles, a simple bowl of fruit or pine cones, and garland on the mantle can create a festive tone that doesn’t distract. When decorating, pay attention to color: If red and green clash with interiors, use or purchase decorations in bronze, silver, or other colors. Electric candles in windows are fine, as are subtle lights in trees or bushes.
Does the house appeal to all the senses? A home should appeal to all the senses. Sellers may wish to make a few inexpensive gestures like swapping out plain light bulbs for bulbs that project golden, muted colors. Natural plants or plant scents can create a homey feeling, and layering fabric on tables and sofas or across coffee tables creates texture. At an open house, play holiday or classical music without lyrics (which can be distracting) and be sure to serve cider, spiced pumpkin bread, nuts, and other holiday treats.
