Image courtesy of Realty Times
Many sellers listing their home this time of year ask if they should decorate over the holidays. In a previous blog, I discussed how home sellers should romance potential homebuyers over the holidays: adding a bit of holiday cheer being among the tips. When you’re trying to sell your home, buyers need to be able to imagine themselves and their own holiday traditions in your home. So, yes, go ahead and decorate, but don’t overdo it.
“You want them to be impressed with your house, not distracted by decorations,” says Forbes. “So, keep it simple this year. If minimizing the ‘ho ho ho’ cramps your style, just remind yourself that you can go all-out next year in your new home.”
These 4 tips will help those of you selling a home during the holidays strike just the right balance:
- Put up lights
If yours is the only house on the street that isn’t decorated, that could be a turn-off to potential buyers. Just be careful not to create a spectacle. Think clean, simple, and elegant to best accentuate your home, like the home pictured in this blog. People who are house shopping over the holidays are likely serious about buying. And they want to see your house, not your holiday decoration collection.
- Forget the inflatables
That big, inflatable Santa or Grinch family or even Snoopy might be considered tasteless by some potential buyers.
“One man’s ‘merry’ is another man’s ‘tacky,’ so tone down any garish light displays while your home is on the market,” says HGTV. Instead, use simple string lighting to play up your home’s architecture or draw attention to the gorgeous fir tree in your front yard.”
- Address your entry
A festive mini tree or cluster of poinsettias next to the door can add a little holiday interest.
“Classic is always best. Hang an elegant wreath on the front door rather than a ‘Santa stops here!’ sign, Jamie Novak, author of “Keep This, Toss That,” told Realtor.com
- Trim that tree
Think of your Christmas tree as staging. A well-decorated tree makes any home feel warm and inviting at holiday time. Place it in a window this year to create that Norman Rockwell feel that will tug at your buyers’ heartstrings.
I hope these 4 ideas will help answer your questions about selling a home during the holidays. If you’re considering listing your home in Montecito, Hope Ranch or any of Santa Barbara’s upscale communities, please call me at 805.886.9378 or email me at Cristal@montecito-estate.com. I’ll happily sell your home and find you a new place to live at the same time. I’ve been selling real estate in Santa Barbara for more than 25 years and would be delighted to help you with all your real estate needs — over the holidays or any time of year.