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By Myra Nourmand
During the holidays, winter cheer is everywhere. Holiday carols fill homes, stores are beautifully decorated, and there’s a general feeling of joy as families gather and fulfill each other’s wish-lists.
No doubt, people are in a buying spirit. In fact, I’ve closed deals on Christmas and New Years. For home buyers looking forward to starting off fresh for the New Year, you want to create a warm and inviting space that will set your home apart from the rest.
Here are five easy ways to do this:
1. Go Green
Wreaths and garlands instantly create a holiday mood, and they also fill your home with the unmistakable fragrance of cedar and pine. Wreaths can be hung on doors, mailboxes and front windows, and you can wind garlands around banisters.
2. Display Seasonal Fruits
Fill large bowls with winter fruits such as persimmons, apples, pomegranates, and the countless varieties of citrus. Place these in the living and dining rooms, and kitchen. Not only do these give life to spaces, but you can also offer them as snacks to buyers.
3. Present a Festival of Lights
Recent technology has provided us with stunning exterior lighting options that are instant reminders of the holiday season. There are energy efficient LEDs, lights shaped as snowflakes, and even ones that electronically mimic snowfall and icicles. Subtle decorations are best because they will please a wide audience—so avoid any blow-up lawn Santa’s or life-sized snow globes.
4. Create Simple Winter Floral Arrangements
Here’s a tip that will instantly turn any flower arrangement into a winter one. Place fresh cranberries in a large transparent vase, fill it with water, and arrange your flowers as you normally would. For an even more dramatic look, choose white flowers along with your arrangement’s leafy fillers.
5. Fill Your Home with Winter Aromas
You can find scented pinecones in stores throughout the country. Fill large bowls with them and place them in living rooms, bedrooms, and the dining room. Also, candles with winter fragrances--like gingerbread and cinnamon--serve a similar purpose.
During the winter months, it’s all about bringing the most memorable aspects of winter indoors. When buyers walk into a home and don’t want to leave, you know that your staging efforts have been worthwhile.
Taking some extra steps—such as lighting the fireplace and adding simple holiday touches—will leave a lasting impression, and make your listing stand out from the others.
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