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It’s Time To Take Down That Christmas Tree If Your Home is For Sale

By Michael Jacobs

Industry Observer CalDRE #01165532

January 24, 2015 06:00 AM

It’s Time To Take Down That Christmas Tree

If Your Home is For Sale

It's Time To Take Down Your Christmas Tree

Check the calendar.

It’s January 24, 2015

Nearly a month after Christmas.

It’s Time To Take Down That Christmas Tree

Especially If Your Home Is On The Market For Sale

This past week I was previewing homes as I do as part of my routine.

A listing that has been on the market for a while but I had missed was on my schedule.

I drove up -- nice curb appeal as the multiple listing service(mls) photos showed and then as I was walking up to the entry.

It hit me.

It was Rudolph with his nose so bright on the front step.

Right next to the Happy Holidays door mat.

I ring the bell. No answer. I use the lockbox.

The entry was large. It was tiled. And it had a table with a pretty mirror. Adorned with holiday cards and garland along with some Christmas candy.

And then there it was the Pièce de résistance of this story -- in the corner framed by the obscured bay window and fireplace the Christmas tree.

The lights were on although no one was home(forgive any subtle irony).

Okay, I understand maybe there was going to be a late celebration.

I understand some families don’t want the holiday season to end.

And you know, that’s okay.

As long as your house is not on the market for sale.

Once your home is on the market for sale -- it becomes a house and a product where the intention is “to sell”.

How you live you life when your house is not for sale is entirely different than after the listing paperwork is signed.

Having a Christmas tree in place along with the holiday decorations should never be seen in the middle of January when your house is on the market for sale. It can be sîending a subtle(or not so subtle) message to potential buyers about your motivation or lack thereof. Are you really ready to move?

Just my thoughts.

If you are a prospective buyer or a homeowner thinking of selling in the Pasadena, San Gabriel Valley or NorthEast Los Angeles(NELA) real estate market, contact me at 818.516.4393 cell. I’m not likely to help you take down your Christmas tree but I can provide the knowledge, guidance and advice to help you win in our current still competitive real estate market.

PS -- Listing agents --- should you have a listing that went on the market during the holidays and it still on the market for sale. If those listing photos are especially festive with holiday decor - you may want to consider some new photographs.

It’s Time To Take Down That Christmas Tree

If Your Home is For Sale

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Michael Jacobs

Pasadena, CA

Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Kristin Hamilton - those red(and any color) twinkling holiday lights give a bad impression to the buyers who will notice them and may overlook the best features of the home.

Debbie Reynolds - on some level, it would be interesting to hear the reason.

Jan 25, 2015 04:26 AM

Michael Jacobs

Pasadena, CA

Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Laura Allen, Lake Tahoe - Truckee Real Estate for Sale www.TahoeLauraLuxuryHomes.com -- haha continue to make your neighbors crazy -- on some level, I love the havoc you inspire.

Alan Kirkpatrick - no pressure, I mean it -- no pressure....

Jan 25, 2015 04:28 AM

Sharon Lee

Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN

Retired and loving life

Michael-You mean you have a snarky side. I would have never guessed. No wonder you and Roger get along so well and of course given I do have that side I can relate. Smiling

I have that side sometimes too and I totally agree that Christmas shouldn't be in January when YOU have a home for sale. I had a realtor that would do that and had planned on leaving it up all year and decorating it for different holidays but that never materialized but a few times she had it up til February. She loved Christmas and apparently didn't want the spirit of it to end I guess. I didn't even decorate. It is fun putting it up but not taking it down.

Jan 25, 2015 04:38 AM

Michael Jacobs

Pasadena, CA

Michael Jacobs

Pasadena, CA

Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Thanks for your comment snarky-like-me Sharon Lee . I've heard stories of people with multiple Christmas trees in their homes decorated year-round with changing themes --- as they say, diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks.

Jan 25, 2015 04:42 AM

Sharon Lee

Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN

Retired and loving life

You mean that was snarky. LOL

Jan 25, 2015 04:53 AM

Michael Jacobs

Pasadena, CA

Michael Jacobs

Pasadena, CA

Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Sharon Lee --- you called yourself snarky --- I don't label anyone(well most of the time) but when someone puts it out there, I am happy to oblige.

Jan 25, 2015 04:58 AM

Kathy Streib

Cypress, TX

Home Stager/Redesign

Michael- oh yes, it is beyond time to take it down. You are absolutely right, you can do whatever it is you want with your decorations but not your house is on the market.

Jan 25, 2015 05:06 AM

Michael Jacobs

Pasadena, CA

Michael Jacobs

Pasadena, CA

Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Kathy Streib - way way beyond time. And it's not a slam against Christmas -- it goes for any holiday -- those Ground Hog Day decorations and weird hats need to go away after that first week in February.

Jan 25, 2015 05:17 AM

Debbie Laity

Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO

Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

I have to agree with you. I get my tree down right after the first of the year. I do like your subtle irony. It made me laught out loud.

Your meetup was all the talk at the meetup I went to in Colorado. I can't wait to hear all about it.

Jan 25, 2015 08:27 AM

Michael Jacobs

Pasadena, CA

Hannah Williams

HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA

Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Michael Jacobs Great advise not only for home owners but also for listing agents

Jan 25, 2015 11:17 AM

Michael Jacobs

Pasadena, CA

William Johnson

Retired - La Jolla, CA

Retired

Hi Michael, I have heard from family back east that some neighborhoods still have their decorations up. I thought the date that things are to be removed is Jan 12th at the latest? Out here, there are rules in subdivisions that holiday decorations have to be down by the end of the first week of Jan. I can't imagine a tree still be up inside either.

Jan 25, 2015 01:31 PM

Hannah Williams

Philadelphia, PA
Michael Jacobs

Pasadena, CA

Sharon Tara

Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH

Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

"The lights were on, but no one was home" HaaaHaaa. Perfect!

Jan 25, 2015 10:39 PM

Michael Jacobs

Pasadena, CA

Michael Jacobs

Pasadena, CA

Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Debbie Laity - thank you and you hear about the MeetUp soon.

William Johnson - you're right about some communities especially those with a homeowner association - there can be some penalties involved when rules are broken.

Jan 25, 2015 11:30 PM

Michael Jacobs

Pasadena, CA

Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hannah Williams - online photos of a house with snow on the ground in the middle of Summer and holiday decorations may not be in the best interest of the seller.

Sharon Tara - somehow I thought that you might appreciate the subtle or not so-subtle irony.

Jan 25, 2015 11:33 PM

Hannah Williams

Philadelphia, PA

Roy Kelley

Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

This is good advice for home sellers. Out of date decorations create a negative first impression.

Jan 25, 2015 11:47 PM

Michael Jacobs

Pasadena, CA

Hannah Williams

HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA

Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Michael Jacobs You are absolutely right listing agents should update their photos

Jan 25, 2015 11:50 PM

Michael Jacobs

Pasadena, CA

Michael Jacobs

Pasadena, CA

Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Roy Kelley - and creating negative first impressions should always be avoided.

Hannah Williams - after all we are in the marketing - successful marketing - of real estate and ourselves.

Jan 26, 2015 12:01 AM

Hannah Williams

Philadelphia, PA

Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-617-6375

Atlanta Homes ODAT Realty - Love our Great City - Love our Clients! Buckhead - Midtown - Westside - Atlanta, GA

Concierge Service for Our Atlanta Sellers & Buyers

Michael -
Loved your comment- Once your home is on the market for sale -- it becomes a house and a product where the intention is “to sell”. It really isn't the Seller's home anymonre but that is often hard to explain!

Have a happy day -
Lynn

Feb 03, 2015 02:14 PM

Michael Jacobs

Pasadena, CA

Michael Jacobs

Pasadena, CA

Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Lynn B. Friedman - you're absolutely correct -- it is difficult for some sellers to understand the concept but it needs to be discussed with them upfront so we know everyone is on the same page with the same goal -- getting their home sold.

Feb 03, 2015 03:57 PM

Joan Cox

House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO

Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Michael, and all the exterior lights and Xmas decor! Christmas is over by 1/24!

Mar 25, 2022 12:47 PM