Christmas may be around the corner, but that doesn't mean that you shouldn't list your house on the market or that you should stop putting in effort to sell. At this time of the year, the people who are looking for a home are motivated – they may have been searching for months, they may have been relocated for work, they may need to move for unexpected family reasons, the list goes on. As a homeowner, there are a number of steps that you can take to help sell a vision to buyers and get your home sold.

1. Create a warm and bright first impression
   At this time of year, it gets dark early. Make sure that you have bright, warm lights in your exterior fixtures and hang simple lights on your house to make it more inviting. You don't need to put up every inflatable snowman in the yard, or every strand of lights that's in your garage, but a little light can go a long way. Keep it simple and classic. Don't forget to hang a nice wreath on the door!
    

2. Pay attention to the maintenance
   Make sure that the sidewalk and driveway are immaculately shovelled at all times. If it looks like you couldn't be bothered to shovel the walkways, it makes people wonder about what else you couldn't be bothered to do. People should feel warm and safe when they approach your home
    

3. Invite them in
   In the winter time, few things are as nice as a warm escape from the cold. Make sure that your home is comfortably warm and consider some lightly-scented candles to keep things feeling festive and cast a warm glow.
    

4. Downsize the decorations
   Unless you have a large living space, it may not be a good idea to plant a full-size Christmas tree in one of the most important space in your house. Consider a “slim” tree or a table top tree. People need to be able to imagine where their furniture will fit into your space, and if an 8-foot tree is sitting in the middle of it, it may cloud the vision. When it comes to other holiday decor, try to keep it simple. A colour-theme is a great way to keep it all cohesive – and don't forget the presents under the tree! Remember, the decor should enhance your home's features – not hide them.
    

5. Scale back the clutter
   Every year when we put away our Christmas decorations, we can't help but exclaim at how much larger the house feels. Christmas decor adds a lot of clutter, so pack away the stuff that doesn't need to be out during the holidays and help to balance all of the items that you're adding the space over the holidays.

Think about the beautiful, seemingly perfect holiday homes on TV and in the movies. Strive to make your home emulate those dream homes and you'll be on the right track. If you aren't certain about which decorations should go up and which should stay in the box, you can always ask your realtor. Their job is to know the demographic of people that your house is likely to attract, and they can tell you whether the funny “Don't get your tinsel in a tangle” sign should stay or go. The holidays offer a special chance to show your home in a new light, so talk to your realtor and gift wrap your home for the holidays.