by Nicki Campbell

Decorating for holidays is fun.  Some people do it for Christmas and others put out decorations for Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, the Fourth of July -- even Valentine's Day.  Kids love them and they make everyone feel festive.

Everyone except buyers!  If you are trying to sell your home, our advice is to keep your holiday decorations to a minimum.  There are two main reasons for this.  First is the added clutter they bring into the house.  The most appealing homes for sellers are those that are warm and inviting but clutter-free.  These homes feel larger, more open and more relaxing.  As a seller, your goal should be to have the buyers admire at your home, not your collections of santas.

The second reason to minimize holiday decorating while your home is on the market is the fact that some buyers may not celebrate the same holidays that you do.  This is especially true of religious holidays, but can even apply to Thanksgiving and July 4th, which may not appeal to buyers who are coming from a foreign country.  While you certainly have the right to display religious or other such symbols in your own home, it is important to recognize the importance of "de-personalizing" your home in order to appeal to the largest possible number of people.

So go ahead and discreetly place a few treasured pieces out at Christmas or Hanukah and enjoy the holiday season with your family.  (Try to leave the Halloween and Easter decorations in their boxes this year.) Just remember that the less "stuff" in the home, the quicker it will sell!