Gather Together

Staging Your House for Thanksgiving

Yes! Houses do sell in November. There are less people looking to buy, but there are also fewer homes on the market. Job transfers, health changes, and numerous other unexpected life detours can necessitate the need for selling your house when the weather can be just as unpredictable.

As I’ve written in previous blogs, start the staging process with decluttering. Then clean, clean, clean! This isn’t just surface cleaning. This is clean inside cabinets. Clean out and organize closets. Clean behind and under appliances. Not taking the time to do this staging step can be a real deal-breaker!

Repair those things you’ve forgotten about just because you learned to live with them. Do you have a fireplace that isn’t working correctly? It’s definitely worth it to get it fixed because it’s a great selling feature! And at this time of year, having a crackling fire burning in your fireplace during a showing or open house is a fantastic way to get buyers to emotionally connect with your house!

Now paint if you need to. A bold color on your front door is a wonderful way to emphasize this focal point from the curb. In contrast, lighter, neutral interior walls make spaces look bigger and are the least likely to turn off buyers.

Now comes the fun part! Splash some color around in small doses through curtains, blankets, and pillows that will also add layers of textures. This is a great time of year to choose reds, oranges, and yellows. 

Go ahead and set the table as if your potential buyers are your Thanksgiving guests. Most people love to envision entertaining their family and friends at holidays, and we all know from the long lines at the airport that Thanksgiving is the number one holiday for “going home.”

With that said, don’t go overboard with the fall decorations. When in doubt, err on the side of  “less is more.” This is another way that you can create a personal connection with your potential buyers who will make their decision based on their head and their heart!

Now, it’s not realistic to actually roast a turkey for that wonderful aroma to permeate your house, but you can simmer some apple cider on the stovetop or even just burn some apple- or pumpkin-scented candles. Usually it’s best to keep fragrances in your home to a minimum or even nonexistent, but this is one time of the year when you can break those rules. A subtle fall scent will just add to the cozy feeling that your decor is already encouraging.

Take advantage of November to sell your house! It’s the time of year to gather together with family and friends, so stage your house so your potential buyers can envision themselves entertaining their own family and friends for Thanksgiving.