Last Updated on December 16, 2024 by Vannessa Rhoades, Three Bears Home Staging
With the holidays now behind us, it’s time to plunge into a new year with new goals and expectations. If putting your home on the market is part of your plans for the new year, it’s important to remember a few basic preparation tips (even for sellers on a modest budget).
Should I Wait Until After Christmas to Sell My House? Is It Better to Sell Before or After Christmas?
Whether you sell in November or February ultimately depends on your family’s circumstances and financial goals. Selling before the holiday might enable you to take advantage of motivated buyers looking to move before the year’s end. On the other hand, waiting until after the holiday madness has died down might make the process less stressful.
Tips for Selling a Home After the Holidays
1. Pay attention to curb appeal.
Power wash the siding, decks, porches, and driveway, add fresh mulch to beds, mow and edge the lawn, and remove decorative lawn ornaments (Even if you love the garden gnomes and reflecting balls, remember that potential buyers may not. Pack them up before you put your home on the market).
Read more tips in our article, How to Improve Curb Appeal When Selling Your Home.
2. Consider new paint.
Most houses need at least some touching up, and many need a complete color overhaul. Professional home stagers are skilled color consultants and can provide expert advice (even when the seller does not plan to professionally stage). Take a look at our virtual color consulting services.
3. Begin packing now–before the home goes on the market.
I cannot over-emphasize the importance of de-cluttering if you plan to sell your home in the new year. You may even consider renting a temporary storage unit to hold boxes and extra furniture. Eliminating clutter can make even the smallest home feel more spacious and orderly to potential buyers.
Read more tips in our article, 5 of the Best Ways to Store Items While Staging & Selling a House.
4. Clean.
A clean house gives potential buyers the impression that the home has been well cared for. A dirty, cluttered space gives the opposite impression. Most professional home stagers will ask buyers to have the home thoroughly cleaned before staging and regularly while the listing is active.
Get our Cleaning Checklist for Home Showings and Our Favorite Cleaning “Must-Haves” for DIY Home Staging Clickable Shopping List, both available in our Library of Freebies.
How We Can Help Sell Your Home in the New Year
If you’re planning to sell your home in the new year and need help getting started or knowing what to tackle first, take a look below at all the ways we can help!
Vannessa Rhoades
Vannessa Rhoades is the author of Just Right! Easy DIY Home Staging and the founder of the award-winning firm, Three Bears Home Staging®. She specializes in providing positive, empowering virtual consultations that help homeowners and real estate agents all across the country sell more quickly and for more money.
