Avoid these seasonal decoration trends, unless you want real creepy crawlies in your home this autumn

Real estate expert reveals how certain decoration trends can harm animals, or invite unwanted guests into your home…

• Searches by users on Pinterest for seasonal DIY and decorating ideas soar by 1000% as Brits prepare for Spooky Season

• Google searches for ‘pumpkin carving ideas’ have seen more than 110,000 searches across the UK in the last month

• Seasonal decorations such as carved pumpkins, dried floral wreaths and fake spider webs can can not only harm local wildlife but also invite it into your home

With Spooky Season right around the corner, searches for seasonal DIY and decorating ideas have seen a spike of up to 1000% as Brits start to plan their autumnal décor updates.

Pinterest Trends for Autumn

Users on Pinterest have searched for ‘easy DIY Halloween decorations’ 1000% more in the last 30 days, with searches for ‘DIY Autumn decoration’ seeing a 600% increase in the same period. Over the last 90 days, similar terms have also seen a huge increase in searches with ‘cozy autumn aesthetic’ seeing a 600% spike, and ‘autumn wreath ideas’ up by 300%.

While decorating a home for Spooky Season can be a fun activity for the whole family, there are environmental concerns that need to be considered before turning the Pinterest inspiration into reality in the home.

Dangerous Decorations

Ryan Fitzgerald, owner of Raleigh Realty explains how seasonal decorations such as carved pumpkins, dried floral wreaths and fake spider webs can not only harm local wildlife (and invite them into your home), but can impact the kerb appeal of a home, and even negatively impact the value of a property.

Photo by Erica Marsland Huynh on Unsplash

Carved Pumpkins

With more than 110,000 Brits turning to Google to search for ‘pumpkin carving ideas’ in the last month, this is a Halloween tradition that could be causing more harm than good.

“The smell of slowly-rotting pumpkins is something that will attract an array of animals to your front garden,” says Ryan. “Birds, squirrels and foxes in particular are scavenging creatures, so will be drawn to the plump flesh, tough rind and delicious seeds of the pumpkins, while rats and mice will be enticed the longer the carved veg is left to decompose on your doorstep.

“From a kerb appeal point of view, no buyer is going to be able to look past decomposing root vegetables sitting on your porch, while a rodent infestation is something that is absolutely going to devalue a property – no matter the season.”

Dried Wreaths

Searches on Pinterest for ‘Autumn wreath ideas’ have seen a 300% increase in the last 90 days, with ‘front door inspiration’ following suit with a 200% increase in searches. While wreaths are hugely popular online, Ryan says there are downsides hidden within the trendy designs.

“Dried flowers are a very pretty accent to any front door, but unfortunately, they’re also prone to mould growth if not properly cared for. Not only can mould ruin the whole aesthetic, but it also releases spores into the home that can trigger allergic reactions or other respiratory issues.

“Beyond that, dried flowers are also a haven for flying insects and moths, and these are house guests no seller wants when their property is on the market.”

Cotton Spider Webs

One of the most common outdoor decoration props is potentially also the stuff of nightmares for local wildlife as many small birds and insects won’t have the strength to break free from the thick webbing if caught while flying.

“There’s nothing more horrifying as an estate agent than pulling up to show a property and find a wasteland of dead bugs and insects caught in something that was supposed to be decorative,” Ryan says. “These fake spider webs act just like sticky fly traps and because of the colour of the material, will highlight the extent of your insect cemetery. Just yuk!”

Who You Gonna Call?

When it comes to the effect rodents and insects can have on a property, Ryan says there is a lot to consider.

“If there are bugs or rodent issues in the home people may skip over it entirely assuming that there are bigger issues. Termites are one insect you have to worry about as they can destroy an entire home in less than a year in some cases. So your entire home could be destroyed if not taken care of.

“The impact to the sale prices will depend on the insect, bugs, mice etc. because while some local wildlife are totally harmless to your property, some can simply destroy a home.”

The Impact of Tacky Trends

Ryan says that while decorating for seasonal trends can be a fun activity for the family, or to make your home stand out from the crowd, it can ultimately impact the potential purchase price of a property by between 5% and 15%  if you’re planning to sell during that time.

“If you’re using Halloween décor in your listing photos there’s a good chance many buyers won’t be able to see past it. The buyers may be stuck looking at the décor and not the actual house. If the potential buyers are not Halloween people they may just skip right over the home entirely as people.”

Instead, Ryan says that sellers should focus on making their homes as enticing to offers as possible, and pause the seasonal decorating for the time being. “Neutrality is always a great way to make sure no one is going to cross your home off their list. What I mean by that is staying neutral in terms of colours, decorations and garden maintenance.

“If the lawn is overgrown with tons of weeds or overrun with spiderwebs and mice nests, that needs to be taken care of before selling the home as this can cause the home to sell by 15-20% less than it’s true worth.

“By improving on these things you could swing 15-20% in the positive direction for a net gain of 30-40% on the sale. It’s well worth it to make sure your home is ready for the market!

For more home selling tips, please visit: https://raleighrealtyhomes.com/blog/selling/