Selling Your Home During the Holidays

It is often said that the spring months are the most ideal time to sell your home. Many are too busy with holidays or school season during the winter months to even begin thinking about buying a new home. However, real estate doesn’t all of a sudden just come to a halt when the holidays are approaching. Even though it doesn’t seem like the most ideal of timing, selling during the holiday season does have its benefits. Inventory tends to be lower; thus, the possibility of setting a higher price and buyers tend to be more serious during the holidays, whether it’s for a job in the new year or for tax purposes.

Should You Decorate When Selling Your Home During the Holidays?

Sellers often wonder if they should decorate for the holidays, and the answer is yes! Selling your home during the holidays does not mean your family can’t celebrate, feeling that sense of joy in an otherwise stressful time. Not to mention decorating for the holidays and making your house more comfy and cozy can be very appealing for potential buyers! Adding some festive touches throughout the home can prompt them to envision the potential of what their family’s holiday season in the home can look like. This allows for an emotional connection between the house and potential buyers, drawing in home buyers to decide to buy. 

Tips for Selling Your Home During the Holidays

Decorate Thoughtfully

Be festive, but honour the value of your home! Decorate to accent the home’s architectural features by using simple and tasteful elements such as a lovely garland for a beautiful staircase, mistletoe in archways or knitted stockings to showcase a fireplace. People will often use every last space to decorate when the goal is to make the space feel as spacious as possible. Be thoughtful that decorations are of an appropriate size to the room they are in—a large tree in a smaller living room will only harm the overall perception of space. A best practice is to limit yourself to a few touches of holiday flair and leave the rest stashed away. With any luck, you will be able to bust them out next year in your new home.

Keep Clutter to a Minimum

Ensure extra clutter is put away to make sure your holiday decorations won’t add to a sense of overcrowding and make the home feel smaller. Put away personalized items such as family photos, named Christmas stockings, holiday cards and gifts.  Tucking these items away will help create a more blank canvas to encourage potential buyers to envision themselves living there, as well as prevent theft of your precious personal belongings and protect your identity. 

Neutral is Key

Keep decorations secular and neutral, avoiding an overtly religious feel as it might turn off potential buyers. Ensure that your holiday collection is cohesive and matches your current décor palette. For example, use silver and white ornaments with cool-toned walls or rich tones like greens, golds and reds with an earthy colour scheme.

Additionally, consider the overall aesthetic of the neighbourhood and create tasteful curb appeal. Festive communities can be seen as more cheery and inviting, tugging on the heartstrings of potential buyers and possibly prompting them to view the community in a new light. 

Lastly, do not forget to play to the senses—the enticing smell of freshly baked cookies or simmering cider will do wonders!