Decorating Mistakes Sellers Should Avoid During the Holidays

By Andrew Duncan

Andrew Duncan is the Founder, CEO and Co-Owner of Tampa’s Best Real Estate Agent Team, The Duncan Duo, the Host of The Duncan Duo Real Estate Show Sundays at 10am on 970AM WFLA. As the team’s Founder, CEO & Co-Owner, Andrew’s focus is on the growth of the company, marketing and promotion initiatives as well as motivating and coaching the team’s agents and leadership.

Should you decorate your home for the holidays when you’re getting ready to sell it? After more than 20 years of selling real estate during the holiday season, I hear this question every year. Homeowners naturally want to make their homes festive, but decorating while your home is on the market can create problems most sellers never anticipate.

I fully decorate my own home for Christmas, but if you’re selling, going all out (think Clark Griswold-level décor) is a mistake. Heavy holiday setups may feel fun and festive, but they can distract buyers from the features that really matter and make it harder for them to picture themselves living there.

Here’s why it matters when your home is on the market.

Large displays put strain on your electrical system. Too many lights can trip breakers. Big Christmas trees and holiday pieces can also block areas that inspectors must reach. When parts of your home are hidden, the inspection process becomes more difficult.

“If décor outshines the home, buyers remember decorations, not features.”

Keep your home neutral. Buyers need to see your home, not your decorations. When the décor stands out more than the property, people remember the holiday setup instead of the features they are actually buying. A neutral look helps them imagine themselves living there.

Holiday decor can turn off buyers. Not everyone celebrates or believes in Christmas. If your home is decorated right up to Christmas Eve, those buyers may see it as a red flag. Instead of focusing on the house, they can get caught up in the holiday theme, which works against your sale.

If you decorate while selling, keep it minimal and short-term. Anything more can distract buyers; your home should be remembered for its features, not its holiday décor. Keep it simple and let the house shine.

Selling a home during the holidays doesn’t have to be stressful. If you want guidance on preparing your home to sell quickly and for top dollar, reach out anytime at (813) 359-8990 or email info@theduncanduo.com. I’d be glad to walk you through the process and help you showcase your home at its best.