When we think of homes with perfectly adorned Christmas decorations those of us of a certain age will picture the McCallister house in Home Alone.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve always wondered what on earth the dad in this 1990 classic movie did to not only afford a Georgian brick colonial des-res like this but to pay for his entire family to jet off to Paris for the festive season, but that’s another story.

In real life the Home Alone house is located in Winnetka, Illinois, about 16 miles outside of Chicago and it went on the market earlier this year for a cool $5.25 million.

There’s no doubt it did look enchanting all lit up with fairy lights for Christmas, but if you are about to sell you house during Santa season, you’d better think carefully about what type of twinkling baubles you put up.

Although a home can look amazing if decked out elegantly over the festive season, inflatable reindeers and snowmen on the front lawn are not going to entice in prospective buyers.

The most important thing to remember is that property sales over Christmas tend to slowdown and if your home is still on the market come February those lovely promo photos of your vibrantly decorated home are going to look dated.

Another top tip from experts is to keep spaces clean and clutter free for listing photographs whatever the time of year and Christmas is no exception. Junk and clutter instantly makes a room look smaller, and so filling rooms with a festive tree and decorations galore will visually shrink the space even further.

Karl Manning, head of residential sales at Savills in Chelmsford, said: 'Selling a property over Christmas often means that properties are more visible to would-be-buyers because there is generally less competition than say in the spring or autumn. However it helps if photos used for the listing are free of any festive decorations, just so buyers can see how the property would look at other times of year and in case the sale continues into January or February.

'First impressions are also important. A fresh lick of paint and a couple of lanterns either side of the front door will illuminate the entrance and ensure your property catches the eye. It’s also worth having a declutter and finishing any odd jobs – fixing damp patches, mending superficial cracks and stains.

'These quick tasks are usually relatively inexpensive but can be off-putting on viewings. Make sure patios are clean and that you sweep up any fallen leaves. It may also be worth investing in a few winter flowering plants for the garden. Another useful tip is to imagine you’re having friends over for dinner. Set the table with candles and glassware. A bowl of seasonal clementines will brighten up the room; and if you’re limited on space, having a drinks trolley in a corner will create a friendly feel.'

Colby Short, chief executive of GetAgent, advises: 'Selling at Christmas is no different to any time of year and you must remember that not everyone will share your tastes, or sense of humour.

'A blank canvas works best when it comes to attracting potential buyers and if your home is covered in Christmas decorations, it can be hard for them to get a true sense of the property.'

So, the takeaway message is if you want to have decorations up during house viewings, then keep them tasteful, minimal and sophisticated. Too many decorations can be overwhelming and distracting.

There is some good news though. Although the property market tends to stall over Christmas, sellers shouldn’t despair because the holiday season is a popular time for prospective buyers to peruse what’s out there online.

Last year there were a colossal 51 million visits to Rightmove over the Christmas period, proving that although actual sales might stall, house-hunters are more than prepared to grab their laptops and check out their options in between games of Charades and their Christmas dinner.

If you do want to snap up a Christmas-proof home, Essex has plenty of options.