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Staging to Sell

December Decorating

The holidays can be a hectic time to sell a home. Owners whose homes are being shown during December may wonder whether it’s wise to decorate.

Here are some guidelines to keep your household members feeling festive and your interior attractive:

• Holiday décor can add seasonal warmth and charm. But remember: less is more. Be very selective in what you display in your home.
• Would-be buyers may observe a different holiday this time of year than you do. Avoid placing inflatable Santas, manger scenes and the like on your lawn. Think in terms of winter, not a particular holiday.
• Unless you have a spacious living room, do not display a full sized Christmas tree. Instead use garlands or a tabletop tree. Or fill a large glass bowl with ornaments that coordinate with the overall decor.
• Pillar candles, set in a clear glass container, add an attractive tabletop or countertop accent.

• Avoid home-made decorations. Each holiday item on display should be elegant and complement the room’s color palette.
• Don’t overdo outdoor holiday lights, particularly icicle lights. They may look attractive after dark, but most property showings take place in the daytime, when messy electrical wires and cords are visible. Petite white light sets are best.
• Replace family photos with ones depicting your home’s exterior during the warm winter months, when plants and trees were in full bloom. That way, prospective buyers are better able to picture your home during other seasons.
• Let in the light. Keep the window treatments open during these shorter days. Leave on the lights during showings, and ask your agent to turn them off when your visitors depart.
• Hang a festive wreath on your door to add to the welcoming look. Place winterberry and evergreen branches in outside flower pots.
• If you’re entertaining overnight guests, have your agent postpone showings until after your guests depart. Open suitcases, unmade beds and messy bathrooms are a turn-off.
• Scent, or smell, is always important. Fresh baked cookies or hot mulled drinks (think cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves) add a wonderful seasonal aroma during an open house.
• Remove and replace any natural plant decor when it begins to wilt.
• Be sure to remove the holiday décor immediately after December, or your home will look stale. Remember, you want would-be buyers to visualize living in your home year-round.

Last updated: January 23, 2009