Stage, Show & Sell Your Home During the Holidays

While the holiday season is a hectic time to show and sell your house, there are distinct advantages to staging and showing during the holidays. The holiday season gives you a chance to show your home at its very best, adorned with warmth, charm and cheer.

A home brimming with greenery, twinkling lights and holiday decorations is pleasing to everyone. Re-stage your home to win over a holiday homebuyer and keep the following in mind as you prepare to show your house:

· Curb appeal. If you live in a snowy area, make sure walkways are cleared. Remove late fall leaves that are littering the grounds. Make sure the path to the stairs is free from ice.

· A few exterior holiday lights or decorations shows pride in ownership and seasonal cheer. Keep in mind that while exterior lights are beautiful at night, don't overdo it. Christmas lights and nativity scenes may not be as beautiful during the daylight hours, when potential homebuyers will be looking at your home.

. Smells of the Season. Nothing warms the heart like the smell of freshly cut garland, cinnamon candles or a green, frasier fir Christmas tree. To keep everything looking its best, keep greenery watered, sweep up shedding needles daily and replace browning arrangements.

.Christmas Flowers add color, life and last all season. Try a grouping an arrangement of poinsettia's by the front door. Seasonal bulbs like amaryllis and paper whites, come in a variety of colors and sizes and can be easily rooted in water or soil.

· Trim outdoor trees so unexpected winds don't knock down branches that could damage your home or hurt anybody.
· Place a nice holiday doormat outside your front door.
· Hang a festive wreath on your door.
· Play holiday music in the background.
· Keep the house cozy and ward off a chilling impression. Set your thermostat at a comfortable temperature.
· A toasty fire. Nothing says home more than a nice cozy fire, but never leave a fire unattended.
· Your tree. This year you'll need to think about your tree more than you usually do. For starters, if your house is on the small side, get a smaller tree. You don't want the tree to take over the entire living or family room. Likewise, you don't want to cram too much furniture into a room just to get the tree to fit. Remove furniture if necessary.
· Keep decorations on the conservative side. Not all home shoppers may celebrate the holidays in the manner you do. You don't want to overwhelm anybody with abundant displays of holiday cheer. You want your house to be noticed, not your decorations.
· Bake holiday cookies and treats often. The enticing smell will be welcome to those viewing your house.
· Be especially careful about ensuring your home security system is turned back on after agents show your house, especially if you have gifts under the tree.
· Windows. Make sure your windows are sparkling clean.
· Let the light in. Open blinds and curtains. Turn on interior lights to reduce the dreary lighting that pervades in the dark winter months.
· Leave some holiday treats and hot chocolate for your guests.

Finally, keep in mind that the holiday decorations should adorn, not dominate. Strive to convey the love, comfort, and joy your family has shared in this home. If conveyed successfully, a new family will be anxious to move in and carve out their own holiday memories.