While spring and summertime are usually the prime times for attracting new prospective residents, there are plenty that will be looking for communities around the holidays as well. Staging residences for tours around the holidays can be a fun and creative experience, and while you will enjoy getting into the spirit, it’s important not to go too far. A few things not to do when staging your residences for the holidays include:

  • Don’t go overboard trying to create curb appeal – Curb appeal during the holidays provides a lot of different directions, and a lot of ways to gain attention. A good rule of thumb to follow is to go simple and elegant, and it’s better to be understated than overdone. Too many yard decorations or lights can be off-putting and actually makes the property of the residence look smaller.
  • Don’t wear out your welcome – Scent, flavor, light, and sound can all be ways to make prospects feel at home and welcome in your touring residence, but only when it’s done well. Creating your welcome is easy to overdo, but using a mix of candles, potpourri, baked goods, air fresheners, and lots of warmth can have the exact opposite effect. Instead, keep it simple with a plate of fresh cookies and a bit of warm cider, or a single holiday scented candle lit earlier in the room and put out to allow the lingering delicate aroma to take over. Also, avoiding turning up the heat and remember that touring prospects will likely be wearing jackets or coats.
  • Don’t be overenthusiastic about décor – A tree, pillows, place settings, curtains, rugs, and other pieces of décor should be chosen wisely. A good rule of thumb to follow is to leave it to small accents, and let them do the legwork. Rather than a tree, small greenery candle holders will look more versatile and elegant. Instead of a holiday rug, a couple of accent pillows will do the trick.

 

Decorating touring residences for the holidays provides a fun way to allow your community’s creativity to shine, but it’s important to not go overboard and wind up turning prospects away. To learn more about holiday staging, or staging for any season, contact us at OccupancySolutions.com today.