Home Staging Tip #9: Staging During the Holidays

The weather up north is frightful, Key West it’s so delightful….

And, this means selling season for you.

For most of us, selling a house is stressful. But instead of adding extra pressure, showing a house during the holidays gives you an opportunity to really make your house outshine the competition.  You have a diverse audience of potential buyers from all over the globe visiting our fair island seeking the perfect retreat from whatever brought them here bet it weather, demanding job, family getaway or just a change of pace.

As long as you don’t go overboard, it is absolutely okay to decorate for the season. When viewers see your house full of holiday cheer, it’s easier for them to envision their own family and friends sharing special holiday moments in the house. It’s a great selling point.

We have all seen the wonderfully outrages light competitions on our island so this is a warning…don’t do it! To successfully show a house during the holidays, follow these simple tips:

1. Exercise the KISS principle (Keep it Simple Seller)

Just like at any other time of year, when showing a house during the holidays, curb appeal is essential. Potential buyers need to envision the house as their own. It’s hard to do that when a blow-up Santa and eight mechanical reindeer overtakes the front yard.  Instead, lace a few fairy lights in your shrubs surrounding your door and hang a simple wreath.

If a Realtor wants to show the house in the evening, some outdoor lights can be appealing and bring a feeling of holiday cheer, especially if you have a beautiful palm tree near your front entrance.

2. Is there too much “Holiday” for the room?

Keep proper proportions among the furniture and accessories.  This is not the time to feature your family collection of ‘round the world Nutcrackers or outdo your neighbors with the largest tree or Menorah. If the Christmas tree overpowers the room and forces the furniture to be squeezed together, the look is unappealing and makes the room look small. Remove extra furniture if necessary. Place a size appropriate menorah on the dining table or a dedicated side table.  Just not sure a tree is going to enhance your room but you really want one; decorate a tabletop tree in your entry or dining table.  Use your Nutcracker collection to create a centerpiece for your dining table or kitchen counter.  Stick to the KISS principle while decking your home.

3. Keep closets and drawers uncluttered

Buyers ALWAYS open up and look in closets. Storage is frequently on the checklist. Buyers want to know how big and deep closets are.  This the perfect time to get rid of all the “stuff” you and your kids no longer use or need to make room for the new.  Instead of hiding kids’ presents in the closets, ask a neighbor if you can store a few in their home before Christmas morning.  If storing elsewhere isn’t possible, use storage bins with a code that will fool nosy munchkins but keep your closet tidy; the fewer items in your closets, the better.

4. Compliment your existing color scheme

Space is also on a buyer’s checklist.  If you have neutral and whites in your living room, consider using the same color scheme in your holiday decorating.  Too much contrast makes the room look smaller and draws the buyers’ eye to the decorations, not the room.

5. Remove personal memorabilia

People come from all over the world to purchase homes in Key West and not everyone shares the same memories and religious celebrations.  You want them to feel at home, like it is already their home, when they arrive with their Realtor.  Remove your family photos of Christmas past and deeply personal items as you would any time of year that you are selling your home.

6. Take advantage of the senses with a little hospitality

Shopping for a home can be tiring.  The Realtor and the potential buyer could arrive to look at your property tired, hungry and thirsty.  And there is nothing more inviting than the scent and sight of a plate of fresh baked cookies. When you know a real estate agent is bringing clients by to look at the house, leave a plate of holiday treats on the counter along with a few bottles of water. These offerings will encourage the potential buyer to linger just a little longer…so make sure your kitchen sparkles!

Avoid lighting heavily scented candles throughout the house.  Many people have allergies to these scents and you do not want to send them off sneezing.

7. Consult a Home Staging professional

A professional home stager will give you invaluable tips on how to best showcase your house for a quick sale.

Homes staged before hitting the market sell, on average, 73 percent faster than their unstaged counterparts, according to the Real Estate Staging Association.

If you’re concerned about whether to spend a few hundred or several thousand dollars on staging, measure the cost against the additional mortgage payments and possible price reductions that may result if your home lingers on the market.  If staging costs $5,000 and you are considering dropping your selling price $10,000, that’s $5,000 you leave on the table.  No brainer, right. We have seen sellers drop as much $100,000 rather than stage a property that could sell for full value if spruced up and maintained.

Be aware, too, that following an initial consultation, a professional stager can scale services to fit your needs and budget. Often, a stager will provide a list of suggested actions and improvements and it’s your choice how many to act upon.

Contact me if you need more information or confused about your next step.  I am happy to answer any questions you may have.

Happy Holidays!

Has this information been helpful?  Give us your feedback.  Let us know if there is a topic you would like for us to address.  Do you need assistance from a professional Stager?  Contact Vicki Grant, CEO of Grant Home Staging Services, grantstaging@gmail.com or (305) 394-9201, staging Key West homes since 2009.