Halloween House Hunting: How to See Past the Decorations and Evaluate the Real Deal
By Susan Seiber, East Valley Real Estate Expert
Okay, can we talk about something that happens every October that drives me a little crazy? I'll be showing a beautiful home to buyers, and they walk in to find fake spider webs covering the chandelier, skeleton hands coming out of the kitchen cabinets, and a fog machine in the living room. And suddenly, they can't see past the Halloween decorations to evaluate the actual house.
I get it—Halloween decorations can be... a lot. But here's the thing: October is actually one of the best times to buy a house in the East Valley, and you don't want to let some temporary decorations scare you away from your dream home.
Let me share some strategies for seeing past the spooky stuff and evaluating what really matters when you're house hunting during Halloween season.
Quick Answer Summary
Is October a good time to buy a house? Yes, October offers excellent home buying opportunities with motivated sellers, less competition, perfect weather for tours, and potential for better negotiations before holiday season.
How do you evaluate homes with Halloween decorations? Focus on permanent features like architecture, room flow, and structural elements while mentally removing temporary decorations. Ask sellers to remove decorations for serious consideration or schedule return visits after Halloween.
What should buyers watch for during Halloween house hunting? Look past seasonal decorations to evaluate lighting, room functionality, outdoor spaces, and neighborhood character. Don't let spooky decorations influence your assessment of the home's actual condition and appeal.
Why October is Actually Perfect for House Hunting
Before we talk about dealing with decorations, let me tell you why October is one of my favorite months for helping buyers find homes.
The Market Conditions are Ideal: Most families are settled into their school routines and not actively house hunting. That means less competition for you and more negotiating power. I've seen buyers get deals in October that they never would have gotten in the spring.
The Weather is Perfect: Let's be honest—touring homes in 115-degree heat isn't fun for anyone. But October? Perfect 75-85 degree days, beautiful clear skies, and you can actually enjoy walking around neighborhoods and checking out outdoor spaces.
Sellers are Motivated: The sellers who are still on the market in October usually need to sell. Maybe they have a job relocation, or they want to close before the holidays, or they've already found their next home. Whatever the reason, motivated sellers often mean better deals for buyers.
You Have Time to Think: Remember those crazy bidding wars where you had to make an offer in two hours? That's rare in October. You can actually tour a house twice, sleep on your decision, and make thoughtful offers.
The Halloween Decoration Challenge
Now, let's talk about the elephant in the room—or should I say, the skeleton in the foyer. Halloween decorations can seriously mess with your ability to evaluate a home objectively.
What I See Every October: I'll show a gorgeous home with beautiful natural light, and the buyers walk in to find it draped in black fabric and fake spider webs. Suddenly, they're talking about how "dark" and "gloomy" the house feels. Or I'll show a home with amazing outdoor entertaining space, but it's been turned into a graveyard scene, and buyers can't envision their own family barbecues there.
The Psychology of Decorations: Here's what's happening: our brains are wired to make quick judgments based on what we see. When you walk into a house that looks like a haunted mansion, your subconscious is telling you this isn't a happy family home—even though it's just temporary decorations.
The Real Challenge: Halloween decorations don't just change how a house looks—they can completely change how it feels. A bright, welcoming living room can feel dark and unwelcoming with the right (or wrong) decorations.
My Strategy for Seeing Past the Spooky Stuff
After years of October house hunting, I've developed some strategies to help buyers see the real house underneath all the Halloween drama.
The Mental Removal Technique: I teach my buyers to mentally "remove" everything that's obviously temporary. Those fake spider webs? Gone. The skeleton sitting at the dining room table? Not there. The fog machine making everything look like a horror movie? Turned off.
Focus on the Bones of the House: Look at the architecture, the room flow, the natural light, the built-in features. These are the things that matter long-term, and they're not going anywhere after Halloween.
Ask the Right Questions:
•How does the natural light flow through the house?
•What's the room layout and functionality?
•How's the condition of the floors, walls, and fixtures?
•What's the outdoor space really like without all the tombstones?
Take Photos (With Permission): Sometimes I'll ask sellers if we can take photos of rooms without decorations, or I'll help buyers visualize by describing what the space looks like normally.
What to Actually Evaluate During Halloween Season
Let me give you a checklist of what really matters when you're touring homes in October:
Lighting Assessment: Halloween decorations often involve dimming lights or adding colored bulbs. Ask to see the house with normal lighting. Open all the blinds and curtains. You want to see how the house feels with natural light, not spooky mood lighting.
Room Functionality: Look past the decorations to see how the rooms actually function. Can you picture your furniture in the living room? Is the kitchen layout practical for your family? Does the master bedroom have enough space for your bed and dressers?
Outdoor Spaces: Don't let a fake graveyard in the backyard fool you. Look at the actual landscaping, the patio or deck space, the pool if there is one. Imagine it without all the Halloween props.
Storage and Closets: Halloween decorations often get stored in closets and storage areas, so these might be more cluttered than usual. Ask to see storage spaces without decorations if possible.
Neighborhood Character: Walk around the neighborhood and see how other houses are decorated. This can actually give you good insight into the community—are neighbors friendly and involved? Do they go all-out for holidays? Is this the kind of community energy you want?
When to Ask Sellers to Tone It Down
Sometimes, Halloween decorations are so over-the-top that they genuinely interfere with your ability to evaluate the home. Here's when and how to address this:
When It's Appropriate to Ask:
•Decorations are blocking important features or views
•The house is so dark you can't see the actual condition
•You're seriously considering the home and need a clear view
•Safety concerns (like decorations blocking walkways)
How to Ask Diplomatically: I usually handle this for my buyers. I'll say something like, "My buyers are very interested in the home, and we'd love to schedule a second showing where they can see the beautiful natural light and architectural features without the seasonal decorations."
Most Sellers are Understanding: Honestly, most sellers want to sell their house, and they understand that decorations might be interfering with that goal. I've rarely had sellers refuse to tone things down for serious buyers.
The Positive Side of Halloween Decorations
Not all Halloween decorations are bad for home sales. Sometimes they can actually help you evaluate certain aspects of a home:
Community Involvement: If the whole neighborhood is decorated, it tells you something about the community spirit and neighbor involvement. Some buyers love that energy.
Creativity and Care: Thoughtful, well-done decorations can show that the homeowners care about their property and take pride in their home's appearance.
Family-Friendly Atmosphere: Homes with kid-friendly Halloween decorations often indicate family-friendly neighborhoods with lots of children—which might be exactly what you're looking for.
Outdoor Lighting: Halloween decorations often involve extensive outdoor lighting, which can actually help you see how the house looks at night and evaluate the outdoor lighting situation.
Timing Your October House Hunt
If Halloween decorations really bother you, you can time your house hunting to avoid the worst of it:
Early October: Many people don't decorate until mid-October, so early in the month you'll see fewer decorations.
After Halloween: If you can wait until November 1st, most decorations come down quickly, and you'll see houses in their normal state.
Weekday Showings: Some sellers only put up their most elaborate decorations on weekends, so weekday showings might be less decorated.
Ask Your Agent: I always ask listing agents about decoration levels when scheduling showings for buyers who are sensitive to this issue.
Real Examples from My October Sales
Let me share a couple of stories that illustrate how Halloween decorations can affect home buying:
The Haunted House That Wasn't: Last year, I showed a beautiful Gilbert home that the sellers had turned into a full haunted house experience. Fog machines, scary music, the works. My buyers walked in and immediately wanted to leave. I convinced them to come back the next week after Halloween, and they fell in love with the house. It had gorgeous natural light, beautiful hardwood floors, and an amazing kitchen—none of which they could appreciate during the haunted house tour.
The Decoration Success Story: On the flip side, I had buyers who were looking in Chandler and fell in love with a house partly because of the Halloween decorations. The sellers had done this beautiful, family-friendly Halloween display that showed how much they cared about their home and community. The buyers could envision their own family creating similar memories there.
Tips for Sellers: How to Decorate Without Scaring Away Buyers
If you're selling your home in October, here are some guidelines for Halloween decorating:
Keep It Light and Fun: Avoid anything too scary or dark. Think pumpkins and fall leaves rather than skeletons and tombstones.
Don't Block Important Features: Make sure decorations don't hide architectural details, block natural light, or interfere with the flow of the house.
Be Willing to Tone It Down: If your agent says decorations are interfering with showings, be flexible about removing or reducing them.
Focus on Curb Appeal: A few tasteful pumpkins and fall decorations can actually enhance your home's curb appeal and make it feel welcoming.
The Bottom Line on Halloween House Hunting
Don't let Halloween decorations scare you away from house hunting in October. It's actually one of the best times to buy in the East Valley, and with the right approach, you can see past the temporary spooky stuff to evaluate the real potential of a home.
My Halloween House Hunting Rules:
1.Focus on permanent features, not temporary decorations
2.Ask to see the house with normal lighting
3.Mentally remove all the Halloween props
4.Don't let decorations influence your assessment of the neighborhood
5.Be willing to schedule a second showing after Halloween if needed
The October Advantage: Perfect weather, motivated sellers, less competition, and more time to make thoughtful decisions. Don't let some fake spider webs keep you from finding your dream home.
Ready for Some October House Hunting?
If you're thinking about buying a home this fall, I'd love to help you navigate the October market—Halloween decorations and all. I know how to help buyers see past the temporary stuff to evaluate what really matters in a home.
How I Help October Buyers:
•Strategic showing scheduling to minimize decoration interference
•Guidance on evaluating homes objectively despite seasonal decorations
•Negotiation strategies that take advantage of October market conditions
•Connections with sellers who are motivated to close before the holidays
Why October Buyers Win:
•Less competition from other buyers
•Motivated sellers willing to negotiate
•Perfect weather for home tours and neighborhood exploration
•Time to make thoughtful, well-informed decisions
Ready to find your dream home this October? Let's start looking—and I promise we'll see past any Halloween decorations to find the perfect house for your family.
Visit CactusLivingAZ.com or follow me on Instagram @gilbertrealestateagent for more East Valley home buying tips and market insights.
Because the best homes don't need to be scary—even in October.
Susan Seiber is a top 1% Arizona realtor specializing in East Valley home sales. With experience helping buyers navigate seasonal challenges and market opportunities, she knows how to find the perfect home in any season—even Halloween.
