Staging Your Home on Chicago's North Shore During the Holidays

In a recent blog post, I mentioned not to wait until after the holidays to sell your home on the North Shore. This time of year is not only ideal for homeowners to find the right buyer and take advantage of a lack of competition, but the holiday season can actually help move your sale along.

How so? The holiday decor present during November and December evokes cozy feelings and emotions in buyers that no other season can. North Shore home sellers can actually prepare to wow buyers in the winter months with classic lights, simple wreaths and a clean and clutter-free mantle, to name a few.

Keep Your Home Free of Clutter
When you list your home in Glencoe, Winnetka, Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield or the surrounding areas, it's important to remember that buyers will be trying to visualize themselves and their own belongings inside. With too much holiday decor, this can be complicated! You can, of course, deck the halls with garland perhaps and your Christmas tree, just stick to classic, white lights and ornaments in one color or color scheme.

Your home itself should be the one drawing attention, not your bold tree ornaments, so keep them to a minimum.

Allow the Features To Shine
Just as I suggested to keep the decor streamlined and simple, it's especially important around your North Shore home's best features. A picturesque fireplace or large bay window should not be blocked by your tree, stockings on the mantle or a giant wreath. Remove any decor around these elements and allow area buyers to really see their beauty.

Emphasize Curb Appeal
The snow on the ground pairs beautifully with strands of twinkling lights and a cheery, welcoming front door. Just like indoors, keep your lights either white or one single color. Try not to mix both white and multi-color holiday lights outside your home or it could begin to look like a hodgepodge of decor.

Place a simple live wreath on the front door and add a large red or green bow if you want to amplify the holiday tone. Outdoor decor like inflatable Santa Clauses, seasonal signs and lawn figures should be avoided as these can turn off North Shore buyers. If you feel a wreath just isn't enough, drape garland above the doorframe or consider placing topiaries on either side of the front door. Natural greenery will bring a more sophisticated feel to your home's exterior decor than any inflatable snowmen.

These next two months have been named the best times to both buy and sell homes on the North Shore, so do not hesitate to give me a call with any questions! From providing a list of available homes to finding your home value, I'm here to help!

Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert

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