How Much Thanksgiving Decor is Okay When You’re Selling Your House?

If you’re selling your home, your Baltimore County REALTOR® has most likely already talked to you about home staging – but what about when you’re selling in the month of November? How much Thanksgiving decor is okay when your house is on the market, and how much is too much? This guide explains.

First things first: Remember that holiday decor should accent your home, not dominate it. When you’re decorating for Thanksgiving or using a fall theme while your house is on the market, you don’t want prospective buyers to be distracted by the decor.
Pro Tip: Stage your home before you decorate. Staging is the act of making your home as appealing as possible to the widest range of buyers.
Related: 7 things movers wish you knew

A Word on Home Staging

Home staging starts with a spotlessly clean space. You can clean your entire home from top to bottom or hire a professional to come in and do it for you, but either way, it needs to be done.
Then, clear out furnishings that make your home look cluttered (and clear out actual clutter, too). From there, swap out personalized decor or anything that prospective buyers might think is eclectic or risqué for more neutral pieces. Think of your favorite luxury hotel or even a model home – that’s the look you’re going for.
Pro Tip: Have your home photos taken before you decorate for the holiday. That way, if your home is still on the market after the holiday passes, your photos won’t look dated.
Related: 5 red flags to watch for when you tour homes for sale

Limiting Your Thanksgiving Decor

Don’t go overboard with Thanksgiving decor. The last thing you want is for your decor to distract prospective buyers. If they’re spending time in your house looking at your table’s massive Thanksgiving centerpiece, they won’t notice how the light from the window illuminates the room perfectly, and if they’re busy examining the leaf garland on your mantel, they won’t notice the brick fireplace below it.
Rather than going all-out with a Thanksgiving theme, consider accenting your home for fall. Skip the leaf garlands and other interior decor for super-plush throws in fall colors, a few vividly colored pumpkins on the porch (but not on the steps, for safety reasons) and some cinnamon sticks in a jar next to a basket of crisp, red apples on the kitchen counter.
Related: FSBO, explained

What if You’re Hosting Thanksgiving?

It’s tough to have company over while your house is on the market – especially if it’s for a major holiday, and especially if you’re entertaining more than just a couple of people. The best thing to do in a situation like this is to decorate the day before and remove decorations the day after. You can let your REALTOR know that your home won’t be available for showings on those three days, as well.

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