I’ve been asked this several times in the past week: “Is it okay to decorate my home for the holidays when I have it listed?”
My answer has always been: “If you want to.”
The more I think about it – that doesn’t sound like professional advice – kind of like shrugging my shoulders and giving a Jeff Foxworthy-esc “Yah-ump-too.” Analyzing it a bit further and reaching back to the advice we give all year is – depersonalize the home so we can sell. Decking the halls to the max is hardly depersonalized. But then again, tis the season.
Think, think think, it’s hardly fair to give a resounding “No.” and then I remembered. One of the core fundamentals I learned in my staging courses was compromise. In this situation, compromise doesn’t mean “go a head and decorate your house so you can see it from space,” but a mere modest sampling of your FAVORITE decorations tastefully displayed. Of COURSE you can have a Christmas Tree decked out with ornaments, and heck – even lights on your house – just make sure it doesn’t distract or completely stand out in your neighborhood, because as much as you may like it – the potential buyer may not.
My advice: Keep it simple, take it down after Christmas.
What are your thoughts?
