I believe tasteful Christmas decorations set a happy, inviting, mood and would be a positive. 

Thanks, Carol. I believe so, too.

I have to admit I have a pet peeve about seeing the Wise Men/Magi at the manger scene. It's historically inacurate. They didn't visit Jesus until he was a young boy living in a house.

Live & Let Live - Bring On the Lights - & a wish for a Happy Holiday season to all my friends & colleagues out there!

I say decorate as you normally would, but educate your sellers that some people may not appreciate it as much as they do, and it may turn them off.  Just educate the sellers.

I was always told to make a home as neutral as possible to generate a sale....

Who knows if Christmas decorations would help?

I would LOVE to hear comments about this...

I can't remember over the past 31 years that anyone I showed homes to was resentful of Chridtmas decorations,  Karen Kruschka

I've never had it broken down so eloquently. To each their own. Are they not there to see the house not judge the decorations?

Well as my home is currently listed... we decided to not put up the decorations as to not distract.  I don't think it really mattered anyway since no one has viewed our home yet this month. I was bummed but since we were going away for the holidays anyways, why put them up and then have to clean it up in a couple of weeks?

Everyone, thanks for your comments. So far... no one knows of anyone that has been offended.

Hi Kenny, Hopefully your customers are there to look at the house and not the decorations! It's kinda like overlooking dirty socks on the floor. It is personal for the owner but the buyer shouldn't let it sway their decision on whether or not to purchase the house! Whether it's a positive or not shouldn't matter. Just concentrate on the structure itself, the neighborhood and all the amenities and it all should be fine! Good luck with it and Congratulations on your winter listing. Deb

I like Christmas lights, I'm sure some clients do. I have to think that if they like the house, there are plenty of things they can look past.

I don't think it really makes a difference if a house for sale is decorated for the holidays UNLESS it is making the home appear too cluttered, or the decorations are overly tacky or distracting for the prospective buyers.   Tasteful and not overdone, I think it's fine.

I came across a house the other day that had about a dozen inflatable decorations. If my sign was in the yard you wouldn't be able to see it. I guess I could have put it up on a flag pole with blinking lights to make sure they see my sign. :D

Hi Kenny -- it just struck me as a curious situation.  I have 22 listings right now and I wish all of them had Christmas decorations...just because I personally like them.  One year I actually took potential buyers out in the evening to see the "Christmas lights of the neighborhood" -- they purchased a property because they came from a neighborhood where everyone decorated their houses.  You never know????

Terry, was your client's last name Krank? One of my favorite Christmas movies. I hope they make a sequel.

Terry, my mistake. He didn't want to decorate. It was Vic Frohmeyer who policed the neighborhood. So your client's last name was Frohmeyer?

Good touch, Kenny :-)

Tonight my wife and I watched a show called something like Extreme Chirstmas. It was good. I'd like to tivo it next time it comes on. It showed some places with Christmas lights like Disney World. A lady said that their electric bill for November and December was $40k. Ouch. They even had a trolley/tour bus.

Interesting comment, Kenny,as my family was just in Disneyworld for eight days the first week of December, and we participated in the semi-private Mickey's Christmas Party & Parade and lighting of the Fantasyland castle.  WOW!

Terry, that's too funny.

Tasteful and not overly done, I don't see a problem with decorations for any holiday.  However, I can't imagine telling Mr. & Mrs. Seller that they have "tacky" decorations or "too many" or that their religious symbols are turning off buyers. . .nope, wouldn't go there myself!

Teri - I agree with you.

I normally work with a lady in my office. I like to be the "bad cop" while she is the "good cop." We work well together that way. I never say anything disrespectful, but I get my points across.

For some reason I think a man/woman team relate well to couples selling their home. I'm not saying that a single agent can't do as well. Have you ever noticed that most of the big time radio personalities have a side kick of the opposite sex? It even works that way in advertising.