When preparing your home for real estate listing photos, it might be tempting to add a bit of festive flair with seasonal or holiday decor. After all, holiday decorations can add warmth and character, right?
However, using such decorations in your listing photos may work against you. Here are a few reasons why our team at Absolute Altitude recommends that you should avoid seasonal or holiday decor in your real estate photos to maximize the appeal of your listing and attract the widest audience possible.
Timeless Appeal
Real estate photos need to be timeless. A well-staged home with neutral, seasonless decor is more likely to maintain its appeal over time. If a potential buyer sees Halloween pumpkins or Christmas wreaths in the photos, they may deduce how long the property has been on the market. A home with spring flowers on display during the fall will also feel out of sync with the current season, which can give the impression that the property is stale. Timeless photos ensure that your listing remains fresh and inviting, regardless of when a buyer stumbles upon it. This also means that you can use these photos in your portfolio over and over to win new listings.
Wide Audience Appeal
Holiday decorations can sometimes alienate potential buyers who don’t share the same traditions. For instance, a home decorated with a Christmas tree may not appeal to buyers who do not celebrate the holiday, potentially limiting your audience.
Similarly, Halloween decorations may not resonate with everyone, especially those who aren’t fans of the holiday. By sticking with neutral, universally appealing decor, you allow buyers to envision themselves in the space, no matter their background or beliefs. This inclusivity helps maximize the number of interested buyers and fosters a stronger connection to the home.
Highlighting the Property, Not the Season
The purpose of your listing photos is to showcase the home, not the holiday. Seasonal decorations, while charming, can detract from the home’s actual features. Buyers should be focusing on the spacious living room, sleek kitchen finishes, or cozy bedroom layouts—not the holiday decor.
For example, a festive display on the mantle could distract from an otherwise beautiful fireplace. By keeping decor neutral, you allow the true appeal of the home to shine through, making it easier for potential buyers to see the property’s potential and features without distraction.
Reducing the Need for Constant Updates
Real estate photos with seasonal decorations need to be updated quickly. You may need to update your listing photos frequently, which can be both time-consuming and costly. By choosing neutral decor that isn’t tied to a specific time of year, you save yourself from having to reshoot the photos when the season changes.
This keeps your listing looking fresh and ensures that it stays relevant throughout the year. Neutral photos are easier to maintain and keep your listing visually appealing without requiring constant updates.
Creating an Emotional Connection
Buyers need to be able to picture themselves living in the home. This is easier to do when the decor is neutral, as it provides a blank slate for their imagination.
Personal or seasonal decorations can unintentionally make it harder for buyers to connect with the space. Simple, seasonless decor allows them to envision how they would make the home their own, which is an important step in the buying process.
When is it OK to embrace the season?
Reels are short-lived content geared more towards promoting fun and current events. They are a great product to choose if you want to do something seasonally fun while also maintaining the integrity of the main focus: showcasing the best parts of the listing on MLS platforms.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, neutral, timeless decor enhances the appeal of your listing photos, widens your audience, and keeps the focus on the property itself. By avoiding seasonal and holiday decorations, you ensure that your listing remains relevant, inviting, and easy for buyers to imagine as their future home.
Not sure what to do or how to explain this to your clients? Check out our photo prep checklist and incorporate this in to your listing presentations. Remember we are here to help. If you need more guidance contact myself or another Absolute Altitude team member for more information.
Joel Yocca is the man with the plan, the owner & CEO of Absolute Altitude. The A2 team is prepared to provide you with the assets you need to level up in any market.
