Don’t let the holidays trip you up. —Donna Evers, Evers & Co. Real Estate
Photo courtesy of John Wollwerth/Shutterstock.com.
During the holiday season, I often see home sellers making mistakes that can impede a timely and appropriately-priced sale of their home. The classic homeowner blunder that arises year after year is holiday “over-decorating.” Home sellers, eager to maintain their holiday traditions despite having their home on the market, often smother their front yards, mantels and banisters with all of the bells, whistles and smells that come with the holiday season.
Unfortunately, these home sellers typically have a more difficult time generating interest in their home than their less-extravagant competition. Potential buyers can have trouble picturing themselves in a home if the style or religious preference of the homeowner is too different or overwhelming. Some potential buyers might even make a lower bid than they would have normally made because their decorations hide some of the more valuable aspects of the home from view. Don’t expect a potential buyer to appreciate the beautiful crown molding, the brand new hardwood floors or the stone mantelpiece if they are covered in garland, snowflakes and a life-size inflatable snowman. But don’t worry. You don’t have to have a bare and boring holiday season. You just need to choose a more subdued decorating plan and consider some of the following tips if you want to reduce your number of days on the market and get the top dollar price for your home.
1. Start by Cleaning and Clearing
Before you begin decorating, you should clean out your normal trinkets and accessories, so you can start with a clean slate. Putting decorations on top of clutter only creates more clutter.
2. Keep it Small and Simple
Just pick one or two colors and stick to one theme throughout your house. If you like greenery and garlands, choose just one string or a couple of strategically placed sprigs this year. A single elegant candle or wreath on your door does so much more for your home in a buyer’s eye than an over abundance of mismatched trinkets.
3. Focus on Attracting, not Distracting
Arranging your holiday décor is not rocket science but you should incorporate a little strategic thinking in your style decisions. Place your decorations in such a way that they enhance the great aspects of your home. For example, if you want to show off your high ceilings, buy a smaller tree this year so the room doesn’t look constrained.
4. Maintain a Sense of Order
After the holidays, people have a tendency to leave the presents strewn all over the living room for several days. Instead, move the kids’ presents up to their bedrooms. This goes for adults, too. Move the new set of golf clubs into the garage or the trunk of the car. Keep everything as neat and open as possible, and your decorations could actually be an enhancement instead of a detraction.
5. Let Someone Else Host this Year
Even if you have a reputation for hosting the best holiday party on the block, it might be a good idea to let someone else host this year. The last thing you need while your home is on the market is worrying about fresh cider stains on your carpet or having to continually scrub your oven and fridge from food overflow.
Donna Evers has more than 30 years experience in residential real estate in the Washington Metro marketplace. She was one of the most successful sales agents in the area before starting her own company, which is distinguished by an exceptional reputation for the highest standards of excellence. Evers & Co. Real Estate Inc. is the largest woman-owned-and-run independent residential real estate company in the Metro-D.C. area. / eversco.com
(December 2013)
