DO decorate with buyers in mind. Your home may attract buyers of any background or religion, so be mindful of the décor you’re choosing, as you don’t want to sway anyone from entering an open house or asking for a showing of your home.

DO accentuate your current décor and color scheme. Don’t go all out on reds if you have more blue accents, for example. Choose color patterns and holiday decorations that complement your home.

DO celebrate the season and create a cozy, welcoming feeling. We all appreciate the spirit of the holidays and wintertime, so you want buyers to envision spending their next holiday season in your home. Lay out blankets, have welcoming décor and enjoy the holidays in your home while you’re still there.

DO add exterior holiday decorations for added curb appeal. While you don’t want overwhelming displays, it can be a nice touch to include a wreath, seasonal tree or lighted shrub on your porch or in your yard where appropriate.

DON’T put up massive lights displays and inflatables in the yard. Although it’s cute and may have your family feeling excited for the season, it’s best for buyers to be greeted with subtle light fixtures, such as string lights hung tastefully this season.

DON’T deck your tree with every ornament you own. While it’s nice to look through them with your family, most buyers want to envision what this home will look like as their own. Typically, personal ornaments don’t always match, and they may even detract from the space they’re in. In addition, don’t overwhelm the space with a massive tree.

DON’T decorate before photos have been taken for your home’s listing. Photos that support your home should be timeless, although you want to think your home will sell quickly, you never know how long it will be on the market.

DON’T display all your personal photos and decorations. While they’re special, that doesn’t mean that buyers want to see pictures from decades of holiday cheer. Keep them close by so you can cherish them, but make sure buyers can picture themselves in your home and hopefully call it their own next season.

DON’T lay out decorations that entail movement or sounds, such as trains, soldiers or dancing characters. While they’re nice to have in your home on standard holiday occasions, they’re not the best for creating a neutral holiday setting within your on-market home.

For more market tips and for more information on buying or selling this season, contact us by calling 904.285.6927.