Want to sell your home over Christmas? Here’s why you should put the decorations AWAY

A warm glow is starting to appear across the country, but could it be because Christmas decorations are destroying your home's chances of selling?

For some people, the festive season means inflatable Santas clinging to windowsills like burglars. Others prefer illuminated reindeer in the front yard.

But if you're among the 100,000 households trying to sell this Christmas, the advice from many experts is to leave the lights in the garage and the plastic snowman in the attic.

Sellers should avoid anything that will hinder a sale in today's tough market.

Rightmove says the average asking price of homes in Britain coming to market in November is 1.7 percent lower than in October, while upmarket estate agency Savills reports that some prices in London are now 19 percent below their peak.

And as buyers struggle to pay off a mortgage, the number of house sales nationwide this year is expected to reach one million, according to Zoopla – or 20 per cent lower than normal.

The Your Move estate agency chain is clear that decorations should not be on the agenda, adding: 'The key to potential buyers falling in love with a property is being able to imagine themselves living there.

“Piles of junk and decorations make it harder. So make it easier for them by keeping spaces as open as possible.'

The public seems to agree. A survey by GetAgent, a comparison site where the public can find positively rated real estate agents, shows that 24 percent of potential buyers say they would be put off viewing a house with excessive Christmas lights.

Colby Short, CEO of GetAgent, advises: 'Christmas selling is no different to any time of year and you need to remember that not everyone will share your taste or sense of humour.

'A blank canvas works best when it comes to attracting potential buyers and if your house is full of Christmas decorations it can be difficult for them to get a good idea of ​​the property.'

Tips for selling a house during Christmas

GetAgent recommends that sellers use white, non-colored lights, flashing lights that are visible during an initial viewing, and no garish exterior decorations.

Instead, it suggests a festive twist on the smell of freshly baked bread; sellers should use holiday scents such as cinnamon and mulled wine.

Not every officer is against decorations. Some, like Alex Oliver of the purchasing service Prime Purchase, say they are unavoidable and most buyers grin and bear them.

Nevertheless, he tells sellers that if they must have decorations, they must follow two golden rules.

Firstly, don't have a house photographed by agents at this time of year as listings on Rightmove with decorations in the photos will make a house feel stale in the new year.

Second, remove the decorations shortly after the festivities to avoid sending the wrong message.

“If the decorations were still there, I would be concerned that there may be other issues that the seller has not taken into account, such as maintenance or permission for any work they have had carried out,” Oliver adds.

But many experts say that listing your home now and having it on the market during the holidays has unexpected benefits.

That's because Christmas is a time for many families to make plans for big events, such as a move, and unfortunately, many couples agree to part ways.

Estate agents say anyone who now prefers to view properties rather than relax is likely to be a serious buyer, while there will also be significantly fewer properties coming onto the market, meaning you'll face less competition.

Twelve months ago, there were a whopping 51 million visits to Rightmove between Boxing Day and the first working day of 2023.

Tim Bannister, data director at Rightmove, said: 'Traffic to our website more than doubles between Christmas and New Year, sellers who get a head start now and have their home ready to launch can benefit.'