Staging Your Home for the Holidays
If you’re selling or renting a home during the holidays, it makes sense to incorporate some festive decorations in your staging to give it that holiday spirit. Many of the same guidelines that we follow for standard staging apply to holiday staging. Remember that holiday decorations are an addition to your staging, they do not replace the regular work that needs to be done. The home must first be cleaned, de-cluttered, and de-personalized. Click here to watch our Ask Doug! video about properly cleaning a home before selling and renting. Only after that has been done, and the staging furniture and décor has been set up, do you want to add the holiday touches. Here are some tips to keep in mind as you prepare your home to show during the holidays.
- Keep it Neutral. It’s impossible to know the preferences and beliefs of potential buyers so to attract and appeal to as many buyers as possible, keep your décor and music non-religious. You’ll also want to avoid offending the senses, so keep any scents light and music at a low volume. Remember that if you’re in a cold place, make sure to turn the heat on to a comfortable temperature.
2. Make it Match. As discussed in our article about preparing your home for holiday hosting, it’s important that your décor does not clash with the style of your home. Keep the styles and the color patterns in line and visually appealing, or else buyers might be turned off.
3. Keep it Simple. There’s no need to go overboard with decorations or multiple trees. In fact, small, tasteful holiday accents are all you need to bring warmth and cheer to the home. Too much décor can take over and detract from what the home has to offer buyers and tenants. For example, an extra-large tree may make it seem like the room is small or there isn’t a lot of floor space.
4. Highlight Features. Just as you would with regular staging, be sure to use your holiday décor to bring attention to the unique features of the property. String garland on a staircase rail or hang stockings on a fireplace mantel, if you have one.
5. Keep it Clean. Avoid messy decorations such as tinsel and ornaments that drop a lot of glitter. Clean up will be easier and your guests will thank you for not tracking glitter all the way home.
6. Don’t Forget the Outside. Curb appeal is important during the holidays, as the front door is the first impression buyers and renters have of the home and it sets the stage for their expectations of what’s inside. A nice wreath on the door welcomes them immediately and a few outdoor string lights can provide some extra lighting this time of year when it gets dark early.
For more information on the property management services offered by Caron B Realty International, call us at (808) 593-9826 or email concierge@caronb.com