Nassau, Bahamas— December is here, and now is a great time of year to give homes a facelift for the holidays.

Because lots of people decorate their homes and yards this time of year, it’s a great time to get work done around the house before decorating, said Rachel Pinder, principle broker of the Bahamas realty agency Island Living Real Estate.

“Why not start by tackling those small repairs you’ve been putting off all year?” Pinder, Nassau Properties expert asked. “You can get your home in great shape so that you can display those decorations on a fresh, beautiful canvas.”

Lawn decorations are popular for Christmas, so Pinder, Bahamas Property expert, suggested cleaning up the yard to prepare. Rake leaves if necessary and prune shrubbery, especially in the front yard.

“If you have limited time or finances, I recommend focusing on the areas that will be seen by most people,” said, Bahamas Waterfront Property expert, Pinder. “Homeowners tend to have holiday parties this time of year and lots of people enjoy driving through neighborhoods and looking at the holiday lights, so you definitely want to put some effort into your front yard, if nothing else.”

It may also be time to take a close look at your home’s front entryway, she said. This is a high-traffic area, so applying a fresh coat of paint and making any necessary repairs to the front entrance will make a big difference in a home’s appearance.

Burned out lighting can detract from a home’s appearance, so be sure to test all outside lighting and landscape light and replace burned out bulbs. Take a look at the walkways, and consider repairing cracks.

“You want to take an objective look at your home as though you are a visitor,” Bahamas Luxury Property expert, Pinder said. “You get used to the little things that need to be repaired or replaced when you look at them long enough, so try to look at your home’s appearance with a fresh eye and ask yourself what would be a turn-off for you if you were considering purchasing the house in its current state.”

Holiday Decorating When Your Home Is For Sale
Once all necessary repairs and spruce-ups are completed and you’re ready to decorate for the holidays, there are some special considerations if your home is on the market, said Pinder, a Bahamas investment property expert. First of all, it’s a good idea to decorate with a “winter” theme, rather than a “holiday” theme.

For example, placing an evergreen wreath on the front door would be a better option than a Santa Claus or religious decoration, Pinder said. Displaying poinsettias or holiday cacti on your front porch would be a better option than potted Christmas trees covered in tiny ornaments.

“I tell my clients to keep their decorations simple, yet elegant,” she said.

When decorating outdoors, less often is more. Placing white lights  in shrubbery and trees often creates a classical look. Additionally, they can make it easier for potential homebuyers to see your home at night.

The “less is more” concept carries over into inside decorations as well, Pinder said. She recommends sticking with a two-color theme if the homeowner wishes to display a Christmas tree.

“I would place the tree in a corner of the room and decorate it entirely in red and gold balls, for example,” she said. “You want the tree to look tasteful and not to overpower the room.”

Place a tree skirt beneath the tree and limit the number of presents displayed beneath. It also is important the the tree doesn’t impede the natural traffic pattern inside the home.

The good news for people selling their homes during December is that December home buyers tend to be serious, Pinder said.

“People who are house hunting during the holiday season typically are doing it out of necessity,” she said. “So making those needed repairs and decorating wisely can make your home appealing to a broad spectrum of potential buyers.”

Learn More
If you would like additional information on giving your home a facelift for the holidays, you are in search of Bahamas rental property, or you would like to learn more about the services offered by Island Living Real Estate, please visit their Web site:  http://www.islandlivingrealestate.com/.

About Island Living Real Estate
Rachel Pinder is the principle broker of Island Living Real Estate. Along with her team of brokers, Hazel Wicky, Brenda Knowles and Anthony Wells, the company has more than 25 years of experience in real estate sales and development throughout the Bahamas.
Island Living has Realtors available to assist buyers and sellers with all their real estate needs.

Island Living’s main office is located in one of Nassau’s oldest historic buildings on Bay Street, named “Red Roofs.” Red Roofs was built in 1896 and has been home to various families, a Gourmet Deli and now Island Living.

Island Living Real Estate- bringing the life of the islands to your front door!

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