Compliments of Peggy Tracy, CSP™
Piermont Staging, LLC
Staging for the holidays is an excellent way to showcase your property if you just give it some thought and take reasonable precautions. Keep decorations to a minimum; they should be simple and non-denominational to provide the widest appeal.
- Give special attention to the house entry. Forego the roofline lights in favor of spotlights on the door or any outdoor features of the house, and especially the house number. If lighting shrubbery or trees, use mini white lights with green cords that don’t stand out in the daytime. An easier method is to sink a spiked spotlight into the ground, shining light straight up attractive leafless branches….again, green extension cords.
- If there is a nice large walkway, a front porch, or a deck or patio, consider adding a bird feeder, an old fashioned sled, or a wreath on anAdirondackchair or decorative bench.
- A live wreath on or near the front door has the added benefit of emitting a pleasant fragrance as people enter the property. Our sense of smell stays with us longest of all the senses.
- Provide a basket or absorbent mat inside the entry for buyers’ outer shoes and boots.
- Keep the temperature at a comfortable 68 degrees so buyers are not distracted by being cold.
- Since the house needs to appeal to the largest number of potential buyers, keep religious and cultural icons to a minimum and tuck them away during showings.
- Christmas trees should be small in scale and have mini white lights and a few carefully chosen ornaments, preferably in one color, or subtle, blended colors. Focus needs to be on the house, not the tree.
- Where you add holiday decorations, remove other accessories to avoid a cluttered look.
- Spread the holiday throughout the house by using greens in appropriate containers, adding a sparkly touch (ACMoore, Michaels) to the greenery or a soft, casual bow and berries.
- Be sure that all extension cords are placed to avoid tripping and do not run under rugs.
- Be sensible about security. A few color-coordinated wrapped empty boxes under the tree or a tree skirt will complete the picture.
- Winter is an excellent time to highlight a fireplace in any room. If you choose to light a fire, be sure there is a screen or glass doors to keep small fingers away. Check your liability insurance for coverage as well as your Realtor’s® comfort level. Same is true of candles: don’t light them for showings because even protected, accidents happen. Battery-operated flicker candles are a good alternative.
- Show your holiday hospitality by leaving a plate of cookies or holiday nibbles (without nuts) on the dining room table or kitchen counter or table.
Special thanks to Christine Rae, founder of Certified Staging Professionals™(CSP™) and author of “Staging for Dummies” for these holiday tips!
Happy holidays!
