Holiday Home Showing Tips

If you do not want to show the house, don't. 
Buyers are fewer during the holiday season and most understand the additional restrictions the time frame places on showings.  This said, the fewer buyers out there are more often serious buyers and while it may be more inconvenient, it might just be the buyer you are looking for!

To decorate or not to decorate...
While staging your home at its holiday best, always creates a warm happy feeling for you, it can back fire in a big way.  First you need to make sure you have the space available, do not make small room look smaller, or block walking paths, always remember bright and open spaces are best.  Secondly, you do not want to turn off a potential buyer. Make sure that any decoration is more holiday cheer than anything else, keep it somewhat secular and ethnically neutral. 

No Show Dates
The time is now, let your Realtor know your no show dates.  This information can be loaded into MLS so that showing Realtors are aware.  Nothing is more frustrating to a buyers agent than to try to schedule a showing and be told no.  This can quickly drop you off their showing list.  Keep it to a minimum, but clearly state your no show dates.

Expect Headaches
The home will be shown, when you and possibly the kids are at home, at the worst possible moment.  Know it, believe it, deal with it.  Buyers will leave the front door open, letting heat out, they will track in dirt, rain and even a little snow.  But remember, most likely they are serious buyers, so they are worth a little inconvenience. 

Sensory Staging
Personally, I recommend this one all year round!  Think comfort smells, the sense of smell can be a huge memory trigger.  Warm apple or pumpkin pie, sugar cookies, even brownies and cakes all tend to have positive, warm memories associated with them.  A quick frozen pie popped in the oven, heated up and then turned off, with the oven door cracked makes an excellent house warmer and sensory trigger. 

Think Santa
Do not forget to put on a pot of coffee and leave out some mugs and treats.  Statistics show, the longer a buyer stays in your home, the better the chance of an offer.