6 Halloween Decorations to Avoid If You Ever Hope to Sell Your House

As Halloween nears, strange things start creeping up in neighborhoods across the country: Zombies hang from trees, inflatable pumpkins pop up on lawns, and front lawns become impromptu cemeteries.

It’s an unquestionably fun holiday to decorate for, but what if you’re trying to sell your house? Just how far can you go with Halloween decorations if you don’t want to truly scare off buyers?

Experts say you don’t have to forgo all festive decorations, but you do have to choose them wisely. In general, decorations should be benevolently neutral: think scarecrows, pumpkins, and hay bales.  

Here are some decoration ideas to AVOID spooking buyers:

1. Blood and gore

Sorry, zombie fans, but gruesome scenes of death and the undead are things to steer away from.  Buyers often have young kids with them and the last thing you want is for a child to cry and refuse to enter your home.

2.  A blood-spattered front door

We’ve already said blood is a no-no, but just in case we weren’t clear, writing scary messages in gory-looking red paint—even something as chipper as “Happy Halloween”—is a bad idea. It’s fine and dandy if you’re just trying to give trick-or-treaters a fright, but to prospective home buyers, this graffiti-style treatment just looks messy, and screams “go away.”

3. Pumpkins whose time has come—and gone

If you’re going to use real flowers, pumpkins, and other perishable decorations, make sure to keep them looking fresh. No one wants to see (or smell) produce that’s well past its prime.

4. Political statements parading as Halloween decor

It might seem obvious, but politically themed decorations are a definite don’t.  Politics is a topic you don't want a prospective buyer to have on their mind as they're viewing your home.

5. Clowns

I think it's safe to say, given what's going on in the world today regarding terrifying clowns, I could go to go out on a limb and say it: No creepy clowns—even if your house isn’t on the market. Talk about the stuff of nightmares…

6. Too many decorations, period

It’s easy to get carried away with decorations as you get caught up in the festivities, but don’t. You’re not trying to impress buyers with your decorating skills; you’re trying to impress them with your house, which can get buried if you’re not careful.

If your Halloween dreams have just been crushed, fear not, you can always put out the gory decor to your heart's content ON Halloween night.  You’re really trying to put your best foot forward in marketing your home, and that means a foot that’s not covered in zombie entrails.

Happy Decorating!!

Cynthia Schmier, Broker/Owner 
CRS, CDPE, CNE, CIAS, MDI, 5-STAR, SRS
RE/MAX Country
Cynthia@Cynthia-Online.com
(360) 400-3475
www.cynthia-online.com

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Spacious abode in convenient location! Large Living rm w/ Dining area boasting built-in hutch! Open kitchen w/ walk-in pantry. Family rm. Freshly painted Master Suite w/new carpet plus a soaking tub. Relax on your new deck as you contentedly contemplate your simplified lifestyle. Never stress over bills, rent includes: Water, Sewer & Garbage! Low-maintenance landscaping! Carport includes 11.5' x 8' storage area. Pets allowed, restrictions apply. Owner financing available!

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Nolan Construction Home with Solar Panels and Tons of Amenities!

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Universal Design: Functionality For All!

Universal Design

First off, what is Universal Design?  (or another term you may have heard as well, "Barrier Free")  When it comes to architecture, it means that the home is designed in such a way that it is accessible for all walks of life; the home is practical for someone regardless of their size, age, if there's a disability or not.

The idea for universal design in housing grew out of the recognition that, because most of the features needed by people with disabilities were also useful to others, there were plenty of reasons to make their inclusion common practice. An example of a universal feature that makes common activities easier for all would be raising electrical outlets to 15 +". above the floor. This eliminates the need to bend over as far, in turn, making them easier for everyone to use.  Moving is also much easier in houses with step-less entrances and wider doors and hallways.  Other design features create experiences many people have not had before. For instance, bathrooms with extra floor space (so designed to accommodate users of mobility aids) are perceived as up-scale and people bask in their new-found ability to have furniture and decor options in the bathroom.  (Oh the luxury of having room for a changing table, or a vanity table and chair, perhaps an etagere, not to mention it would certainly set your home apart !)  And it can easily be removed if the space is ever needed to accommodate a family member or friend.

Universal design in housing isn't a new science or style by any means and really only requires an awareness of need and market as well as a practical approach. The goal is to produce an environment that can be usable by everyone to the greatest extent possible.  Typically it requires only slight changes in small things to get a good start, like the shape of something, its placement or size, its operation, or the way in which the user must interact with the item.

Now some people may have pre-conceived ideas that crop up when this universal design concept is explained.  But just because a home is built for functionality for all, doesn't mean it can't also be aesthetically pleasing. And when a home is constructed with both concepts in mind (beauty and universal design) you can have a masterpiece that is as pleasing to the eye as it is practical. For a real world example, I give you 12035 Hobby St SE in Yelm.
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To take a virtual tour, click on the following link: http://www.tourfactory.com/1567748

This Wiens Log Home was custom built in every aspect according to universal design and as you can see, it's quite the show-stopper.

If you're looking for a way to set your house apart from the usual selection, maybe try doing some alterations and see what happens!

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Vitual Tour

Selling in Fall

Selling in Fall

OK, so we have gone over the market predictions for this fall, we have gone over Pros and Cons of buying in the fall and now we are going to talk about what you can do to make your home easier to sell in the fall.

Clean up Yard

Rake leaves, trim hedges, weed and clean walkways to make your yard look neat and clean.

Create Autumn Curb Appeal

Place pots of marigolds or mums on steps or along the sidewalk to add a nice fall color or add pumpkins or other squash as accents on your porch.  Little touches make a big difference.

Clean Out the Fireplace

Nothing smells like autumn then a wood burning fire place or if you have a gas fireplace light it for potential buyers but make sure it’s clean of cobwebs and streaks.  You could even place candles in the fireplace in order to bring attention to a great feature. 

Utilize Autumn Accent Colors

Throw some bright red, orange or yellow pillows or throw blankets on the sofa and chairs.  Clear away the clutter and depersonalize your home then add a bold colored centerpiece in the dining room with pine cones and nuts maybe even add a few bright leaves from the yard you just raked. 

Turn on the lights

As the days grow shorter it’s harder to make the space look bright so pull up the blinds, push back the drapes and turn on those lights.

These are just a few ideas on how to make your home stand out during the fall selling season.  Ask your agent for some others and good luck.

Cynthia Schmier, Broker/Owner 
CRS, CDPE, CNE, CIAS, MDI, 5-STAR, SRS
RE/MAX Country
Cynthia@Cynthia-Online.com
(360) 400-3475
www.cynthia-online.com