Happy Sell-oween: How to Decorate While Your Home is on the Market

We’ve rounded the corner into October, and while the weather might not be quite as cool as we’d hoped, fall is undoubtedly here. The leaves are changing, the seasonal drinks are flowing, and the pumpkins are ever-present. And, of course, Halloween is right around the corner!

If you’re in the midst of selling your home, you might think it’s impossible to decorate. But you don’t have to compromise your holiday spirit while your home is on the market! Use these helpful decorating tips to give your home a tasteful dash of spooky—while still attracting buyers!

Keep it Outside (Mostly)

A little girl holding a pumpkin.

Luckily, most Halloween decor is meant for the outdoors anyway, but just as a reminder, try to keep things outside. While it’s alright to have a few spooky things inside, too much, and you risk your home looking more haunting and less welcoming.

If you do want to give your interior a splash of character, we recommend sticking with small things like candles, candy dishes, and small gourds or pumpkins. That way, you can also create a sense of warmth and welcoming, as well as embrace the Halloween spirit!

Avoid Hazards

Jack-o-lanterns.

If you’re selling your home around the Halloween season, you’re probably going to have much more traffic than the usual trick-or-treaters. When setting out your jack-o-lanterns, lawn decor, and cobwebs, be sure you clear out a generous amount of space for people coming in and out. Don’t risk anyone tripping over the pumpkins on your door step, and maybe leave a few lanterns out so it’s easy to see exactly where the decorations are!

Speaking of pumpkins—they can go rotten pretty easily. Make sure you’re checking on the freshness (or just use a few fake ones) so the smell doesn’t become it’s own hazard.

Don’t Go Overboard

Halloween decor, two skeletons and a lot of lights.

It’s easy to go overboard when decorating for the holidays, but if you still want to attract buyers, you’ll need to strike the right tone. Pumpkins and a few cobwebs? Perfect? Giant inflatables and skeletons in the trees? Maybe a little too much. Again, you want your home to seem hospitable, not haunted!

An easy way to set the right tone and keep things minimal is by focusing on general fall decor, instead of specifically Halloween decor. Scarecrows, hay bales, cornstalks, wreaths—they still capture the seasonal spirit (especially if you throw a few fake spiders in here or there).

Plus, the less you put up, the less you have to take down!

Don’t Put off Tear-Down

Halloween decor, witches boots on a porch.

If you’re home still hasn’t sold by the time November 1st rolls around, it’s time to start packing it in. You don’t have to start right at the stroke of midnight, but you should probably get going in the morning.

You want buyers to start their showing off with the best possible impression—and outdated decor isn’t going to do you any favors.

Ready to Celebrate Sell-oween?

Listing your home during the holidays doesn’t mean you have to give up decorating! If you’re looking for more tips and tricks on how to successfully sell no matter the season, trust in the expertise of the Laurie and Neil Team.

From our free home evaluation tool to our home-selling timeline, our resources were made to help you through every step of the process. Any questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out, and we can get started with your selling journey!

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