In a home staging business dilemma I posted last month, I tried to get you thinking about what you would do if you were asked to stage a house that was completely taken over by Christmas.
A special thanks to those of you who contributed to the discussion by posting your own advice to the story.
(If you would like to read that original post and comments, click here).
Contrary to some of the comments, I don’t recommend holding off listing a property until after the holidays.
Nor would I ask them to hold off on having the property shown.
Don’t wait until after Christmas to put a home on the real estate market
There are still people looking for a home in December. There often isn’t much for buyers to look at during this time of year, because so many sellers are waiting until after the holidays to list.
Basically, having a house listed over the holidays presents a wonderful opportunity for a smart seller.
When the supply of homes is low, that’s THE ideal time to be on the market because there’s a greater chance of selling and more potential for selling at a higher price. Remember, when demand exceeds supply, prices go up.
That being said, you don’t have to swoop in like the Grinch and steal Christmas from your clients. You do have to make sure they go easy on the tinsel!
Home Stagers, my Christmas home staging tips:
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Ensure listing photos are taken without any Christmas decorations.
Nothing dates a photo like holiday decorations and details like that in a photograph are simply too distracting.
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Keep holiday decorations simple.
Avoid overwhelming buyers and distracting from the actual house you’re trying to sell.
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Don’t deck all the halls!
Choose one area of the house to decorate and keep it simple.
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Décor doesn’t have to be focused on Christmas.
Not everyone celebrates the holiday. For example, elements of nature like berries and pinecones in a glass bowl can be decorative and understated without being “Christmas.”
With home staging we want decorative accents not theme rooms, even if that theme happens to be many people’s favorite holiday.
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Use more neutral colors to tone down “Christmas” decor.
Chocolate brown can be used to tastefully tone down more colorful Christmas decor. For example, you can combine dark brown and jewel-toned ornaments for a tasteful and beautiful alternative to red and green.
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Plant an outside urn or window boxes with an arrangement that will last all winter.
Check out the window box I had planted in the photo in this post. Says “winter” without saying “holiday.” Twigs and evergreens, pine cones and dried poppy pods can look attractive and festive without screaming Christmas.
I love the comment Donna left on my original post. Especially where she shares the words of wisdom she leaves with her clients:
“For every holiday decoration you add to your home, that’s one more reason to keep a prospective buyer from buying your home because they can’t really see your home through the distractions, lovely as they may be.”
Hopefully this article will help prepare you for any holiday home staging situation you find yourself in!
Great, thoughtful article – AGAIN!
. Holiday decorating is one touchy subject. Beginning mid November, I ask my clients about their decorating, using a “less is best” suggestion. I encourage my sellers to ‘”holiday-stage” their home for real. The owner usually leaves the home like the photos. (If the homeowner is a lousy photographer, they ask a well-equipped photographer-friend.) These photos will be added to their “Photos of Our Exceptional Home & Neighborhood Book”.
. Few sellers offer an organized home pictorial. Agents don’t ask for one. HOWEVER, a seller’s strong suit may not be in decorating, but their gardening $kill$ are unbelievable. Photos showing the house during other seasons, or showing in bloom (now dormant) plantings, make an impression. A picture is (possibly) worth thousands here. When the Homeowner is off property, the book speaks directly to the buyer. [The Book is a continuation of the Stager’s presence: a few cards placed inside often disappear & a call may follow months later.]
. (A) Buyers enjoy seasonal photos of a home they’re considering: tease photos: how the house decorates; the lawn in summer if late fall/winter; how lovely the home is in snow. If the homeowner is a gardener: lists of plants; photos of blooms; if a trellis of jasmine, lilac, or flowering bushes/plants, these photos are golden! Interior Christmas decor may lack something, but if the seller plants bulbs galore, those photos are priceless WHEN SEEN & imagined as belonging to the buyer.
. (B) Some neighborhoods are exceptional: don’t assume prospective buyers know this. Have a Professional Pamphlet w/pools, ball fields, trails, golfing, info, etc. A separate photo book includes info RE: holiday contests; yearly picnics; decor on their street, etc. Anything special? One staged home was in a sub-division that held a yearly Christmas hay ride w/horse drawn wagon, outfitted w/jingle bells in FL.
. Photos tell a story too often overlooked by the agent & the homeowner. As a stager, I make certain the untold stories are beautifully told!