Some home sellers are hesitant to list – or keep – their homes on the market during the holidays. For every perceived reason not to put a house on the market, however, there is a corresponding reason why it is advantageous to do so.

Perception: There is a smaller inventory of buyers. Reality: Serious buyers, including those who are relocating, shop during the holidays.

Perception: The home can always go back on the market as a new listing in January, thereby drawing more traffic because it’s fresh. Reality: Sure it can, but do you really want to miss the activity that does occur during the late fall and winter months when less competition makes your house stand out more?

Perception: Real estate agents take December off and are unavailable. Reality: Serious agents continue to work hard during the holidays. Stories abound of agents closing offers on Christmas Eve!

A house is often most appealing when decorated for the holidays. Consider these tips when staging your home:

Show restraint when your home is on the market. Since first impressions are critical, exterior decorations should be limited to a simple but lovely wreath on your front door.

Allow buyers to imagine putting their own furniture in each room. They can’t do that if your holiday decorations take center stage. Limit your display this year – less is more when you are trying to sell.

Don’t block or cover up important selling features, such as leaded-glass windows or fireplace mantels.

Consider setting up a smaller tree this year and storing wrapped presents in a closet – a large tree with gifts spilling out over the floor might make the room appear smaller.

In addition to appealing to the buyers’ sense of sight, this festive season is a good time for sellers to appeal to the buyers’ senses of touch (a velvet table runner on the dining room table, fluffy hand towels in the bathroom), smell (a simmering pot of cider on the stove), sound (soft instrumental seasonal music) and taste (a plate of homemade holiday treats)!

Before showings, be sure to remove snow, ice and leaves from walkways, driveways and porches. Place a mat by the front door so that buyers can wipe their feet. Make it easy for buyers to get out of their warm car to view your property.

If you’re selling during the holiday season, keep the decorating simple, and try using a few home staging techniques to make buyers want to linger. You may find a buyer who falls in love with your home because of the coziness, warmth and holiday feeling it exudes!