Cooler weather, Sweaters, and Hot Cocoa. Oooooo! And the Cinnamon. Apples. Pumpkin Spice. MMMM! Can you smell it?
We wait all year for this, and now we get to transform our space with our beautiful decorations just in time to list the house for sale. Everyone who comes to see it will get to see the house at its best. In all its Fall Glory. They’ll fall in love with it because it’s so pretty! It’ll be great! So exciting!
Hold on a minute, Martha. Before you go redecorating for the Holidays, there are a few things that you should keep in mind.
Over-decorating is something that many of us battle with. As the years pass, we collect so many wonderful pieces with fond memories attached to each one. So, when we pull down the boxes from the attic and dust them off, we’re compelled to put them ALL on display.
Normally, I would say “Go For It”, put those Sock Pumpkins and Leaf Collages that your kids made in the 2nd grade out on the Mantle. Those are cherished memories! BUT when you’re trying to sell your home, These are not normal times.
Keep your decorations to a moderate level. Remember that when you’re trying to sell your home, you want to showcase the best of your home, NOT the best of your decorations. Think “Placing a few decorations to enhance the beauty of the Mantle” instead of “Using the Mantle to display the beauty of your decorations”. You don’t want to hide the best features of your home by burying them in Seasonal Home Décor.
Speaking of hiding, go easy on the scented candles and smelly plug-ins. Enhancing your home with the gentle aroma of a candle or 2 is fine. I totally get it. I ALWAYS have candles in my house. But when the first thing people notice when they walk into a house is the Pumpkin Spice, you may have one too many!
Believe it or not, the thing that my clients remember the most about the homes that they’ve visited is the “smell” of the house. Too much “foo-foo” and it may seem like you’re trying to mask an underlying problem. In addition to that, there are many people who are sensitive to smells. You don’t want your “Perfect Home” to become a non-option simply because the potential Buyer couldn’t complete their tour due to an allergic attack.
The moral of the story is “keep it tasteful”. Ask your Real Estate Agent’s advice, and once you’re done decorating, ask your Real Estate Agent to come by and give you their opinion of what they see and smell. They will be thrilled that you did and will be happy to help!
If you don’t yet have a Real Estate Agent and you’d like some pointers on decorating your home for a Fall sale, OR if you’d like me to help you find your Dream Home, call me, Your Real Estate Concierge at (928) 848-8830 or email me at [email protected].
