Selling in December: Tips for Staging

Sellers pressing you to list their home during the holidays? We're here to help you survive it, with real estate selling tips for your overburdened holiday schedule.

Avoid scaring away potential buyers with these holiday decorating compromises for homes on the market this December...

Protect privacy.

If at all possible, convince sellers postpone decorating this year. Decorations not only block pathways and make a home feel cluttered and smaller, but could inspire biases or prejudices from potential buyers. Besides, a sparser setting better allows buyers to imagine their belongings in the seller's home.

If buyers insist, suggest these real estate selling tips for toning down holiday features:

• Don't be a blockhead. Avoid blocking important selling features like fireplace mantels, stairs, and stain glass windows.

• Go Lilliputian. Shrink Christmas trees. Rather than a 10 footer, perhaps a tabletop version would be passable this year.

• Stuff it. Keep wrapped presents in a closet or in a corner out of the way for space savings and security.

• Find the way to a buyer's heart. Hint: Like your spouse, it is also via their stomach. Set out cookies, spicy apple cider, and festive dinnerware for a surefire hit.

• Don't hang yourself. Greenery (evergreens, rosemary) is far preferable to holiday banners.

• Top it off. Pine cones and other natural, wintry centerpieces are a great decorating option – but don't overdo the greenery.

• Have them seeing red. Go for added red over green. It is a more emotionally appealing color.

• Keep the sale from going up in smoke. Never leave burning candles unattended.

• Enlist professional help. A home stager may be able to help you and your seller come to a compromise.

To view the original article, visit the Properties Online blog.