As an agent, you are the first to know that home sales often slow down during the holiday season and that there are fewer buyers in the market. Additionally, you also know that home sellers are more eager than ever to sell before the year comes to a close.

In addition to setting the right price and correctly marketing a property, staging a home for the holiday season can help your clients' home stand out from the competition. Here are some tips to get the gears turning with your clients. Feel free to cut and paste the list below and send it in an email to your clients, or forward the link to this page!

1. Help clients understand the importance of staging

Before you even get started, it is important that your clients understand the added value of staging, especially during this pivotal time in the year. The holiday season is busy, hence fewer buyers will be coming their way for a tour. This means that your clients should be aiming to make their property stand out among the rest with appropriately staged photos.

2. Don’t overdo the holiday decorations

One of the tricky things about staging during the holiday season is not to go overboard on the holiday spirit. Potential buyers have different backgrounds, and while some may be major Santa enthusiasts, others might not celebrate at all for personal or faith reasons. Going too big on holiday decor might be a turnoff to some, and if your home is still on the market in January, excessive holiday cheer in your photos will look out of date. We recommend light color or scent accents to evoke warm feelings. More on that in the next point.

3. Make it feel warm and inviting

The holiday season is all about spending time together at home. Promoting the connection between your client’s home and buyers’ imaginations is essential to nailing the holiday atmosphere. We recommend making the home feel warm and cozy by adding throw pillows, chunky blankets, holiday-inspired scented candles, and a stack of classic board games. For open houses, touches such as fresh coffee and a well-heated home can help evoke cozy feelings. They allow the buyer to place themselves in each room without being overwhelmed by sometimes corny holiday decor that isn’t theirs.

4. Focus on communal areas

Sellers should focus on staging key areas of the home that people spend the most time around during the holidays. Some light pine or candle accents on a fireplace mantle are a good way to help buyers imagine how they might decorate the area. Additionally, setting a clean tablescape with some light holiday accents can help buyers envision their loved ones around said table enjoying a warm meal together.

5. Don’t forget about curb appeal

Curb appeal during the colder holiday months can be tricky and not as green and floral as the summer months. We recommend that your client clears any debris or leaves that might have fallen onto the yard and lawn. Avoid garish, over-the-top lawn decor such as inflatable Santas. Simple landscaping with accents like a door wreath, a warm porch light, or small pine accents can pull the whole look together while not relying on the weather to do the work!

To recap, we recommend that once your clients understand the importance of home staging, they get clear on the theme and don’t overdo it with too much holiday decor. Having clean, understated accents such as pine scents or wreaths, warm lighting, and cozy throw blankets can help pay homage to the season without forcing it onto potential buyers. Directing their attention towards communal, celebratory places such as the dining room, the kitchen, or the fireplace mantle can be key spots to place small accents and get them thinking about their own future lives in your home. Be sure to not forget about curb appeal, where the name of the game during the winter is simply keeping it clean and tidy.

Remember that low inventory this time of year can work in a client’s favor—with fewer houses on the market, more attention will be paid to your sellers’ homes. Have fun listing and selling this holiday season!