| Winter brings its own set of problems to home | | | | home sale may take a little longer. |
| sellers. Home buyers don't feel as motivated to | | | | Home Staging with Christmas Decorations |
| go home shopping in cold, wet weather. Plus, the | | | | Use less of your ornament collection this year. |
| early nightfall makes buyers want to wait until the | | | | Don't over-crowd your rooms. You want your |
| weekend to view houses. When the weekend | | | | buyers to see your home's features. Rooms filled |
| rolls around, home shoppers get sidetracked with | | | | to the brim with decorations stop the buyer's |
| holiday activities. | | | | eyes from visualizing their own furnishings in your |
| Besides the typical winter slow down in sales, | | | | home. Plus, crowded spaces feel smaller. |
| today's market also makes selling your home | | | | Examine your room colors and compare to your |
| more difficult. Market concerns include: | | | | Christmas decorations. Do the reds clash? You |
| 1. Rising interest rates | | | | may want to store ornaments with colors that |
| 2. More houses on the market | | | | don't add to the setting. |
| 3. Longer time frame--days on the market | | | | Home Staging for the Senses During the Holidays |
| If you're selling your home or investment | | | | Appeal to your buyer's senses to make them feel |
| property during this shifting real estate market, | | | | at home. |
| you can tempt buyers to get out of their warm | | | | 1. Sight: Use amber-colored lights that give a rich |
| cars and take a look at your home with home | | | | warm golden glow to your rooms. Switch out |
| staging methods. Here are a few home staging | | | | your regular white light bulbs in a few table lamps |
| strategies to help you sell your home during the | | | | with amber bulbs to make your home feel |
| holidays: | | | | toasty-warm and inviting. |
| Home Staging the Exterior | | | | 2. Sound: Play gentle well-known music without |
| Door wreaths welcome all to your home and set | | | | words. This makes buyers feel like singing along |
| the stage for celebrating. Make a simple wreath | | | | and picks up their step. Music helps buyers feel |
| to hang on your front door with holiday colors | | | | joyful in your home. |
| that blend in with and dress up your home's | | | | 3. Smell: Use natural essential oils in a diffuser. |
| exterior colors. Use tree branches from your | | | | Many people suffer from allergic reactions to |
| garden; attach a few gourds or pomegranates, | | | | artificial sprays. Simmer cider with orange slices, |
| nuts, and ribbons. | | | | cinnamon and cloves. |
| Group vines and mums or poinsettias for display | | | | 4. Touch: Add silky and velvet fabrics to table |
| impact near the front entrance. Adjust the vines | | | | tops that tempt the buyer to feel the softness. |
| to add height and movement. Add colored ribbons | | | | The brain interprets the sense of touch just by |
| and fall leaves or evergreen branches. | | | | seeing softness. Also, use thick, fluffy hand |
| Holiday Décor and Your Target Buyers | | | | towels in the bathroom and kitchen to soften the |
| Do your neighbors decorate their home exteriors | | | | cold, hard surfaces of room typically filled with tile, |
| with Christmas decorations? If your neighborhood | | | | granite, and porcelain. |
| supports Christmas themes, then your | | | | 5. Taste: Yes! The sense of smell contributes to |
| prospective buyers will appreciate your Christmas | | | | the sense of taste. Make sure you're cooking |
| décor. | | | | something heavenly. Treat your prospective |
| However, if your neighborhood doesn't decorate | | | | buyers like a guest. Invite them to share a warm |
| for Christmas, then your buyers may feel more | | | | drink and a sweet snack. |
| comfortable without Christmas decorations. Play | | | | The more time your buyers spend in your home, |
| down Christmas if you live in an area that | | | | the more they have invested in it. Houses do sell |
| promotes "politically correct" holiday and seasons | | | | all year long. If you're selling your home during the |
| greetings instead of "Christmas Cheer." | | | | frantic holiday season, taking a few extra home |
| If you feel that you want to celebrate Christmas | | | | staging steps can make a big difference in your |
| your way, go for it. Just understand that your | | | | sale. |