Staging your Home to Sell Over the Holidays

As tempting as it may be to take your home off the market to reduce holiday stress, it's not the right move if you are a motivated seller.Only the most serious buyers will pursue their home search during the month of December so by taking a holiday hiatus you may end up shooting yourself in the foot. That being said, showing your home this month can be especially tricky.  Here are some decorating and staging tips that will allow you to keep your sanity while still making sure your home is appealing to a vast buyer pool:

1.) Less is more. This is one of the most important rules to live by when staging your home, regardless of the time of year. When it comes to decorations you need to be especially careful that they don't make a space seem cluttered or block pathways through the home. Also, be sure decorations don't hide or down play selling features of your home; for instance fireplaces and staircases.
2.) Keep personal affects to a minimum. You want a potential buyer to walk into your home with the ability to envision themselves living there; you don't want them distracted by your life there. This means everything from family photos, trophies, and refrigerator art must be stored away. An added bonus in clearing these personal items is that your space will appear larger.
3.) Avoid overtly religious items. Certain cultures and religions might find religious symbols off-putting and they might be turned off before they even give your home a chance. An easy way to keep buyers interested without sacrificing your family's holiday cheer is to store religious statues, mangers, and menorahs in a safe place on days you are showing your home.
4.) If applicable, pick the right Christmas tree. In most cases, sellers are better off with a smaller Christmas tree in order to make the room appear larger. However, a tall skinnier Christmas tree can be a great way to highlight vaulted or cathedral ceilings.
5.) Don't forget about the outside of your home.  Many times tasteful holiday decor on the outside can project a feeling of warmth, drawing people in.  Conversely,  too many lights or lawn ornaments can turn buyers before they even enter the home. There's no denying that selling your home this holiday season will require extra work on your part however, it will all be worth it once you are presented with an offer to buy your property.  Follow my tips, and with a little luck, you'll have even more to celebrate this New Year's!