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Home Staging Tip…Don’t Let Your Halloween Decorations Scare Away Your Buyers

By
Home Stager

Home Staging Tip…Don’t Let Your Halloween Decorations Scare Away Your Buyers

 

Just because your house is on the market now doesn’t mean that you have to pretend that it isn’t Fall or that Halloween is around the corner. 

 

Home has become even more of a sanctuary for many of us and that’s not a bad thing to convey to buyers. 

 

fall decorations

 

What you want to remember, though, is the principle behind staging or styling your home for sale and that is to allow potential buyers to see the space…the liveability of the property. 

 

Below Are Tips That Won’t Scare Your Buyers Away. 

 

 

-Talk To Your Agent First

They know your local market…what may work and what may not.

 

-Hold Off On Decorations Until AFTER MLS Photos Have Been Taken

This is another reason why you want to speak with your agent first. These photos are the first thing that potential buyers will see.

Seasonal decorations can date your listing. 

 

 

-Keep It Simple

 Resist the urge to “holiday” every room and flat surface of your house. 

 

-Make Sure Your Buyers Can See The Front of Your House

Buyers begin forming their first impressions as they pull up to your home. 

 Make sure they’ll be able to see your house. Save the blow-up pumpkins for your new home.

And remember, those Halloween decorations are cute when they are lit up at night, but your buyers will get their first preview of your house during the day.

 

halloween decorations not to do



-Remove Obstacles

Between ghosts and goblins and spider webs and ghouls, don’t make your buyers have to duck, sidestep and hop over pumpkins just to get through the front door.

 

spiders on house

 

-Don’t Overwhelm Buyers With Scents of the Season

While I love pumpkin-spice scents, some buyers may be allergic to strong scents. CLEAN and FRESH are always good scents. 

 

 

Things You CAN Do…

-Use the Colors of the Season in Simple Decorations

Orange may not go with every decorating theme. For example, if you have pinks and pastels in your home, try white pumpkins instead of orange.

You can use simple floral arrangements or a few small white pumpkins around a pillar candle. 

-Add Color to Your Entry with Seasonal Plants

Mums are perfect for this season!

 

 

You can enjoy the season and still have your home on the market if you follow these tips!!!

 

Posted by

Kathy Streib
Retired Home Stager
and Interior Redesign

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for Houston & Harris Counties
and
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for all states


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Comments (24)

Leanne Smith
Dirt Road Real Estate - Golden Valley, AZ
The Grit and Gratitude Agent

One would think common sense would kick in, but the holiday decorations may indeed turn off some buyers.

Oct 04, 2022 05:48 AM
Kathy Streib

Leanne Smith the problem with the decorations is that they can distract from the buyers being able to see the space. 

Oct 04, 2022 02:27 PM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Great advice, Kathy... especially about getting the MLS photos taken before the decorations go up. If the house sits on the market through the New Year, Halloween decorations are going to be a bad sign. 

Oct 04, 2022 06:09 AM
Kathy Streib

Carol Williams missed you today. And yes, those MLS photos stay up there!

Oct 04, 2022 02:28 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Kathy,

Great tips when you list your home during the holiday season. You can have your home on the market and still enjoy the season by following your advice.

Oct 04, 2022 06:17 AM
Kathy Streib

Dorie Dillard Austin TX Having some decorations around helps buyers feel come connection to the house but too much can be distracting!

Oct 04, 2022 02:37 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Thank you very much, Kathy, for sharing your experience and your advice.

Oct 04, 2022 07:27 AM
Kathy Streib

Roy Kelley thank you and hello to Chef Dolores. 

Oct 04, 2022 02:40 PM
Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543
Realty ONE Group Advocates 484-237-2055 - Downingtown, PA
Selling the Main Line & Chester County

Great advice, holiday seasons always worry me with listings, as some people live to decorate and get upset when you give advice regarding decorations when their home is listed for sale. Keep it simple is the best advice.

Oct 04, 2022 08:40 AM
Kathy Streib

Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543 I know what you mean I consulted on a home that had decorations in every room and on every flat surface. The shower curtains were even Holiday-themed. 

Oct 04, 2022 02:41 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Great post, Kathy! I always recommended to my sellers that they decorate more "season" than "holiday".  As you stated though, holiday decor is just fine if kept to a minimum and not obstructing view of the home.

Oct 04, 2022 08:45 AM
Kathy Streib

Sharon Tara I agree...seasonal is a good way to go!!!

Oct 04, 2022 02:45 PM
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Hello Kathy and great information to share with us here in the Rain.  Make it a great day!

 

 

Oct 04, 2022 09:02 AM
Kathy Streib

Will Hamm I'm working on it!

Oct 04, 2022 02:46 PM
Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty
Waves Realty - Melbourne, FL
Florida Space Coast Homes

personally, it is my opinion that you do not need to decorate your home for the holidays if it is up for sale (just my opinion)

Oct 04, 2022 09:52 AM
Kathy Streib

Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty nothing wrong with that!  I'd rather see none than one that is overly decorated. 

Oct 04, 2022 02:47 PM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Less is more when selling  home around a holiday Kathy!  I've seen some great toned down decorating styles and then...........the over the top styles.  It's hard for buyers to see the house and what it has to over through all that stuff.

Oct 04, 2022 12:46 PM
Kathy Streib

You're right Anna Banana Kruchten CRS, Phoenix Broker Toned down decorations are so much better. 

Oct 04, 2022 02:48 PM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Kathy you only get one shot at a first impression, so you need to make it a good one.

Oct 04, 2022 03:07 PM
Esther (Essie) Cruz
Coldwell Banker Realty/Monmouth-Ocean - Manalapan, NJ
Manalapan Marlboro, NJ Real Estate
Great advice, Kathy! Less is best!!!
Oct 04, 2022 06:35 PM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

I missed out on this post yesterday because I was commenting on posts too early in the morning, haha.  I had to come back because I never like to miss out on staging tips that you provide!

Oct 05, 2022 05:31 AM
Erik Hiss
Keller Williams Capital Partners Realty - Worthington, OH
You can trust me for all your real estate needs!

Very good tips, thank you! 

Oct 05, 2022 08:39 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Kathy:

There are lots of great tips for having your home show-ready at Halloween time. You certainly don't want interested buyers spooked by too many decorations, especially indoors. Decorating after MLS photos are done is an important suggestion.

Jeff

Oct 05, 2022 05:43 PM
Barbara Michaluk
Weichert Realtors | Phone Direct 240-506-2434 | 301-681-0550 office - Silver Spring, MD
Leisure World Specialist / Full Service REALTOR

Not everyone is excited with Halloween decor. Best to refrain from adding more clutter to any home on the market for sale. This is all good advice.

Oct 06, 2022 05:55 AM
Rocky Dickerson
Realty One Group - Las Vegas, NV
Superior Service!

Speaking of scaring your buyers, I was driving on a dirt road in San Diego a couple weeks ago. And in the night, I see ahead of me JUMPING SPIDERS! I would not want to buy a home on that road.

Oct 06, 2022 02:46 PM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

Congrats on the well-deserved feature Kathy!

I had a listing during the Thanksgiving season one year, and the house had some nice touches for the photos.  Well, the house stayed on the market until the holidays were over.  We had to reshoot a couple of rooms.  So your advice should be heeded.

Oct 07, 2022 08:23 AM
Ray Henson
eXp Realty of California, Inc. (lic. #01878277) - Elk Grove, CA
Realtor

As we are getting ready to sell our place, this is a very important message for me to keep in mind.  I love Halloween and I love that my neighbors have over the top decorations.  Mary Margaret made sure that I kept all of my decorations in storage so I have to wait until next year.

My neighbors!

Halloween Skeletons

Oct 09, 2022 05:24 AM
Malendaz Coleman
FLAT MLS LISTING SERVICES - Port Charlotte, FL
FLAT FEE MLS LISTING SERVICES - LIST LOW AS $69.00

Hi,

Enjoyed your blog page, and I added you as a friend. I would love the follow back. Malendaz

Oct 09, 2022 01:09 PM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

I totally agree with Anna Banana Kruchten CRS, Phoenix Broker - less IS more and oftentimes during religious holidays, I encourage them to keep the decorations boxed up for their new house - next year! 

Sage advice, Kathy - of course, you are spot-on.

Oct 15, 2022 01:24 PM