All I want for Christmas is my house sold
With Christmas fast approaching, we look at the best 5 ways to get your Christmas wish.
As the holidays approach the number of enquiries from buyers do tend to slow down a bit. However, if you’ve chosen to continue to market your property for sale over the festive period you have a serious advantage. Namely, if buyers are out viewing property in December, chances are, they are serious and motivated about moving!
We have some tips to make sure that those buyers put your property at the top of their wish list!
1. Don’t get your tinsel in a tangle
When you are decorating for the holidays try to keep it simple. Choose a colour scheme and stick to it! It will make your home look magazine-styled and inviting rather than a crazy clutter of Christmas. Apply the “less is more” theory to your Christmas cards as well and don’t display all the holiday good wishes you receive or again, the space will look cluttered.
2. If they can’t stand the heat, they may get out of the kitchen!
Remember most of the people who come in to view your property will be wearing coats, either provide them with an easy place to hang it (and maybe even a little sign inviting them to take off their coat and make themselves comfortable?) or keep the temperature slightly cooler to make viewers still wearing their outdoor gear feel much more comfortable while they look around. If your potential buyers feel over-heated they may rush to leave and you may find your property gets a cool reception.
3. Smells like home
Scientists have found that scent is the sense most closely related to emotion. You can help people form an emotional attachment to your home by letting a warm, homey scent drift through your rooms. American realtors will often suggest that the scent of baking bread creates that emotional connection, so you could always try popping a half-baked baguette in the oven before viewers arrive – just don’t burn it! On the other hand, something as simple as the smell of a real Christmas tree can create a scent that is pleasantly linked to happy Christmas memories.
4. Keep it cosy
Cushions make reception room look cosier. When people step through your door to view your home, make it so cosy they just don’t want to leave. Try decorating with warm, textured fabrics – adding piles of cushions made from knit fabrics to sofas or beds is an inexpensive way to make people feel like they’d like to curl up and stay a while.
Dot candles around your home to add light and provide scent and atmosphere. If you are lucky enough to have a feature fireplace, try making it stand out by filling it with candles, or even light it if you can. A crackling warm flame will spark the imagination of Christmases to come.
5. Light up your life
Shorter days and often greyer skies sometimes mean that viewings over the winter months can be a bit on the dark side. Ensure a warm glow is dotted around your home wherever you go, with candles, table lamps and under lighters to add to the main lights.