Are Seasonal Decorations Fun or a Faux Pas When Selling Your Home?

A Halloween wreath can be a trick, rather than a treat, if it shows up in listing photos in January.

Seasonal decorations aren’t automatically a faux pas when you’re selling. I love them, and a few thoughtful touches can make a home feel warm and inviting. The key is thinking about how they’ll look in your listing photos if the season changes before your home sells.

Keep Seasonal Décor Simple

If your listing photos still show Halloween decorations after Christmas, buyers may notice that the home has been on the market for a while. That doesn’t mean you need to remove every seasonal detail. Keep decorations simple, and make sure they don’t distract from the home. Instead of skeletons, seasonal mums can make a big impact without hitting the potential buyer over the head with Halloween.

Think About Photo Timing

If your home is still listed when the season changes, talk with your agent about whether the photos need an update. Planning ahead may help keep your images current and avoid arranging another photography session if you don’t need one.

Here in Chicago, seasonal décor hasn’t been a big issue for every listing, but it’s still worth keeping in mind. With a little planning, you can enjoy the season while helping your home’s photos stay fresh.

The Forecast Is In: Weather Matters, Too

Just as Christmas trees in the listing photos a buyer sees in March don’t do the sellers any favors, visible indicators of the season outside matter just as much. If there is snow on your lawn in the listing photos, a potential buyer is browsing in June, it’s a sure sign that your listing is stale. One exception to this is staged exterior photos, putting your home in the best light. Professional photos of the pool at the height of the season, even if you list in February, tell buyers that you planned ahead.

A good rule of thumb is that if your home is not selling quickly, you may need to update the listing photos to account for the change in seasons. It will not combat an overpriced listing, but it can keep things from seeming stale to the potential buyers out there.

Getting ready to sell? I’d be happy to help you plan the timing, staging, and photos for your listing.