| Selling your home over the holidays does not have to | | | | ready to use it in your new house. Remember, we |
| be a hassle. However there are some special | | | | want your house to be appealing to all sorts of |
| circumstances that you will want to consider before | | | | buyers, including those who may have differing |
| you pull out your holiday decorations. These holiday | | | | religious backgrounds. There are always sacrifices to |
| staging guidelines will keep your house in top showing | | | | be made when your house is on the market. Keeping |
| condition while allowing you to celebrate the seasons! | | | | your holiday decor "neutral" is always recommended |
| 1) Decorate, but do not over decorate. Keep holiday | | | | for a quicker sale. |
| decorations to a minimum. If your holiday decorations | | | | 4)Holiday decor must remain timely. Remove your |
| are displayed throughout your house, buyers will only | | | | holiday decorations after the holiday is done. There is |
| remember the decorations and not the house, itself. | | | | nothing appealing about seeing Jack-o-lanterns out in |
| For maximum effectiveness, add seasonal decor to | | | | February. Halloween decorations should be removed |
| focal points: the front door, fireplace mantle, and | | | | on November 1st; Thanksgiving decorations should be |
| table centerpieces. Pine (or other) artificial garland | | | | removed right after you get home from shopping on |
| with lights make for a lovely display on mantles | | | | the following Friday; and Christmas (or other) |
| without over powering the home. Seasonal flower | | | | decorations should be removed by January 2nd. |
| arrangements on the tables add warmth to the | | | | Outdoor urns may be used as general winter decor, |
| house while providing natural fragrances. Tree tops | | | | but to "de-Christmas it," you should remove any |
| placed in urns at the front door are always inviting | | | | lights. |
| (provided they don't crowd the entrance). Finally, | | | | 5) Add a seasonal scent. When fall approaches, |
| when selling your home, avoid large yard displays. | | | | certain scents become very pleasant: apple cider, |
| Buyers need to be able to see the yard and not be | | | | pumpkin, and other spicy scents. In the winter, vanilla, |
| distracted by the inflatable Santa. All other outdoor | | | | molasses, and other sweet scents add a warmth to |
| lighting displays should remain minimal and tasteful. | | | | the house on cold days. Pine and cinnamon are |
| 2) What about the tree? To set up the tree or to | | | | especially pleasant during the holidays season. In the |
| not set up the tree... that is a good question. The | | | | spring, light fresh scents make the whole room feel |
| answer is to consider the square footage of your | | | | new again. Summertime fragrances include light floral |
| home. If your home is on the smaller side of the | | | | scents that remind buyers of flower gardens. Try |
| housing spectrum, every visual square foot counts. In | | | | adding these scents naturally through baking or fresh |
| this case you will want to keep the tree packed | | | | floral arrangements. If you use room fresheners or |
| away until you move into your new house. If the | | | | candles, choose light fragrances that do not |
| square footage of the room is not an issue, go | | | | overpower the room. |
| ahead and set up the tree with tasteful ornaments. | | | | Staging your home over the holidays combines basic |
| 3)Do not use overt religious symbols. Your religion is | | | | home staging principles and everyday common sense. |
| not in your stuff, it is you. Packing the manger scene | | | | Follow these steps, and buyers will be impressed |
| away for one season does not convey any | | | | regardless of the holiday or season! |
| underlying meaning except that you are getting | | | | |