How to Stage (And Sell!) A Home For The Holidays

The holiday season is all about giving – even when you’re trying to receive a great offer on your home. Give a good impression, by taking the time, tastefully decorate for festive showings and make home hunters feel right at home. This year, leave the reindeer display in the box and try these tasteful yet festive decor tips to make prospective buyers feel right at home.  

LIGHT IT UP

First, make sure the outdoor lights are functioning — winter days are short, so lighting the walkway and front door evening viewings is a must. Second, when it comes to festive light displays, keep it simple. String white lights to highlight an architectural feature or a splendid spruce in the front yard, and stash that reindeer display in the garage.

FESTIVE FRONT DOOR

Since the front door is typically the first thing potential buyers will see, make it count. Give that dull front door a quick makeover by hanging a tasteful wreath or swag. Placing a seasonal arrangement in the entryway or on a hall table also makes it feel like prospective buyers are coming home for the holidays, rather than coming to someone else’s home for an open house.

HOLIDAY FLAIR

Although year-round home staging promotes a less-is-more philosophy, when the holidays roll around, ramping up your ornament game. But don’t go overboard. A bowl of fragrant pinecones, some strategically placed sprigs of holly, or a bowl of shiny glass baubles should do the trick. Steer clear of overtly religious displays as it might put off some people. Remember: this is about them, not you.

PRETTY PALETTE

Eclectic collections of ornaments may hold great sentimental value, but they may clash with a home’s decor. Consider the overall colour palette and find complementary ornaments. If the walls are white, suggest your clients consider a faux white tree, or if the room is decorated in darker tones, gold or green holiday accents.

WARM UP

Stepping out of the biting cold and into a warm and cozy home is one of the few pleasures of wintertime. Enhance the corporeal experience of your potential buyers by making sure the thermostat is cranked up a couple of extra degrees. If there is a fireplace, ensure it is lit for showings and staged photos.

SEASONAL FRAGRANCE

Thanks to human physiology, the quickest way to access memories is through the sensation of smell. Make sure potential buyers get a good whiff when they walk through the door. Simmering apple cider or baking a batch of ginger cookies are good standbys, but take it a step further and sparingly spritz a winter-scented home fragrance throughout and breathe deeply.