When it comes to selling your house, it can feel like there are a thousand things for you to remember. And just one of those things is staging. For many sellers, this seems like a frivolous chore that they could skip – but trust us, it’s not! Staging is essential at any time of year, but during the festive season the right staging can not only secure you a buyer, but even increase the amount your house could sell for. Because it turns out, buyers really like it when sellers stage their properties! 81% of buyers say that home staging makes it easier to visualise the property as their future home and makes that commitment a little easier.
Remember, your buyers aren’t house hunting – they’re home hunting, and if they fall in love with your house, they’re likely to decide quicker, and push harder to secure it. And even if you aren’t selling your home right now, some of these tips could help make your home more festive and get into the holiday spirit!
Create Cosy
This is a cosy time of year. Friends and family are gathering together to enjoy board games, baked goods and toasty hot chocolates in front of a roaring fire. So, use this to your advantage and arouse those feelings of seasonal spirit with snuggly decorations and yummy goodies. Thick blankets, candles (battery operated ones) and winter themes can all create that comfy cosy feel you’re looking for. Nothing says warm and cosy like a fireplace, so decorate your fireplace mantle and place a basket of firewood (birch wood is always pretty) near the hearth. Recreate that wonderful feeling of warmth and cosiness with your holiday home staging and buyers are sure to fall in love with your home.
Up Your Curb Appeal
Curb appeal might be one of the more important aspects of home staging, but it’s often overlooked. After all, if buyers don’t like the look of the outside, they’ll just drive on by without wanting to go inside. First impressions are vital when you’re trying to sell a house, so put some effort into the exterior of your house. On top of the standard making sure everything is clean, clear of debris and giving any rough paint a touch up, Christmas gives you the opportunity to showcase how great the house can look at any time of year. Try to avoid anything overly religious, but if you can hang icicle lights, wreaths and any other external decorations that could entice buyers inside. If you have dormant flowerbeds, consider using Christmas decorations to disguise them. We do recommend that you avoid the 10ft inflatable Santa on the roof though!
Use The Senses
Have you ever heard the phrase ‘you eat with your eyes’? Well, the same thing goes for buying houses. Except instead of just using their eyes, buyers use all of their senses when deciding if a home is for them. That means you need to think about everything from the temperature, the smell and even the flavour of Christmas cookies on the air. Simple touches like hiding cinnamon sticks, simmering some Christmas spices on the stove, turning up the heating a little, displaying Christmas treats around the house, playing quiet Christmas music or hanging cedar wreaths can go a long way to getting your buyers in the festive spirit and making them feel at home in what could be their new home. Embrace the 5 senses (touch, sight, smell, sound, taste) and make your home a pleasant place to be even for a short time.
Make Living Areas Spacious
Even if they live in it at home, not many people like the idea of a cluttered and cramped space. So, take some time to look at your living room, remove the clutter and open up the space a bit. That might just mean moving some things around, but it might mean moving that odd armchair into storage just to create some more space during viewings. Remember – less is more! And if you’re in the mood for redecorating, light colours tend to create a feeling of openness and are more attractive to buyers, as they can plan their own colour scheme at the same time. If you can’t (or don’t want) to repaint, then decorating the space with light colours can have the same effect. And just before your prospective buyers arrive, make sure to turn on all the lights and open the curtains to show off your space.
At Northwood we love everything Christmas, and we want to make sure you love it too. And what better gift than an offer on your house! If you would like any help or support about selling your home, or you have questions about the staging process, we would love to help. Just get in touch with the team of Northwood elves today and see if we can work our Christmas magic!
