Deck the Halls: How to Sell Your Home and Celebrate the Holidays at the Same Time

If you have a home for sale or are selling a house in December, you face the inevitable dilemma of whether to decorate for the holidays or not. Conventional wisdom says no. For the rest of the year, we (HomeStagers) adamantly advise clients to steer away from overt symbols of religion on the basis that they are too personal and could deter potential buyers of differing perspectives.

Indeed, many stagers advise that you should avoid or at least minimize Christmas decorations when selling your home. I disagree.  In fact, from an emotive perspective, the holidays can create the perfect environment for closing the deal. Holiday decorations, regardless of your religion, are designed to create feelings, smells and sounds of joy and cheer.  Just the sort of mood we aim to create with staging all year round.  And just the sort of mood required for a willing and able buyer to take the final step.

So I say, go forth and deck the halls, but keep this in mind:

·        Decorate but don’t cover up:  Indulge in holiday decor but remember that prospective buyers will need to see the home, beyond the decorations.  This is especially true when it comes to outdoor lighting.

·        Make it look nice: Coordinate.  Use decorations that match the color scheme of a room.

·        Focal points: Use holiday decorations to highlight the best features of your home.  High ceilings?  Get a tall tree.  Amazing fireplace? Showcase it with pine garland, or dangling ornaments.

·        Keep it cozy:  Baby, its cold outside. Keep it warm indoors.  Prospective buyers will stay longer. You can even step it up a bit by offering warm cider or a nice hot chocolate.

·        Consider floor space:  Don’t place a wide-based tree with a ton of presents in a small room. 

Happy Holidays!  Tiffany Parker is the Owner and Operator of Parker Interiors Home Staging and Redesign, a staging firm serving Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia.