Month: December 2018

First, make sure your outdoor lights are functioning — winter days are short, so lighting the walkway and front door evening viewings is a must. Second, when it comes to festive light displays, keep it simple. String white lights to highlight an architectural feature or a splendid spruce in the front yard, and leave the light-up reindeer display in the garage.

Since your front door is often the first thing a potential buyer will see, make it count. Give that dull front door a quick makeover by hanging a tasteful wreath or swag. Placing a seasonal arrangement in the entryway or on a hall table also makes it feel like prospective buyers are coming home for the holidays, rather than coming to your home for an open house.

Although year-round home staging promotes a less-is-more philosophy, when the holidays roll around, ramping up your ornament game. But don’t go overboard. A bowl of fragrant pinecones, some strategically placed sprigs of holly, or a bowl of shiny glass baubles should do the trick. Steer clear of overtly religious displays as it might put off some people. Remember: this is about them, not you.

Your eclectic collection of ornaments may hold great sentimental value to you and your family, but they may clash with your home decor. Consider your home’s colour palette and find complementary ornaments. If the walls are white, maybe opt for a faux white tree, or if the room is decorated in darker tones, consider gold or green holiday accents.

Stepping out of the biting cold and into a warm and cozy home is one of the few pleasures of wintertime. Enhance the corporeal experience of your potential buyers by making sure the thermostat is cranked up a couple of extra degrees. If there is a fireplace, ensure it is lit for showings and staged photos.

Thanks to human physiology, the quickest way to access memories is through the sensation of smell. Make sure your potential buyers get a good whiff when they walk through the door. Simmering apple cider or baking a batch of ginger cookies are good standbys, but take it a step further and sparingly spritz a winter-scented home fragrance throughout and breathe deeply.