Some say the stretch between Thanksgiving and Jan. 1 is just about the worst time to list a home for sale or try to find a buyer for one that’s already listed. Others take the counter approach: List it the day after Thanksgiving and you’ll shine among the reduced competition.

Northwest MLS numbers show that listings dropped from September to December in 2005 by 9.6 percent and in 2006 by 16.6 percent.

Consider Elizabeth Weintraub in the anti-holiday listing camp. She writes for about.com and had the following list of reasons you should not sell your home at holiday time.

• Buyers will think you are desperate.
• It's inconvenient to always be ready to show at a moment's notice.
• The offers you receive will likely be for less than list price.
• You're appealing to a much smaller inventory of buyers who have very specific needs that your home might not match.
• It's almost impossible to close a transaction in December if the offer is received mid-month. Buyers who want to close in January make offers in January.
• Your agent might be on vacation in December and unavailable.

And what about the plastic Santa and poinsettias? Should you tone down the decor or not put any out at all? Or will buyers at this time of year expect holiday cheer and find it alluring, like the age-old advice that dictates baking cookies before an open house so your home smells homey?