The cooling temperatures may have you longing for the bygone days of summer, but there's still plenty to love about fall. Apple cider is available again, the changing leaves provide gorgeous scenery, and, of course, Halloween is approaching.

Many homeowners take full advantage of the occasion, festooning their home with pumpkins, goblins, ghouls, and other spooky décor to greet trick-or-treaters at the end of October. If you're selling a home during this season, though, it raises the question of whether such decorations will help or hurt your chances of finding a buyer.

One risk of putting up Halloween decorations on a home for sale is that they will prove distracting – especially if you're known for large, haunting displays. Julie Ryan Evans, writing for Realtor.com, says too many decorations will make a home feel cluttered, mask home features, or simply distract potential buyers from the property itself.

While putting up a modest amount of decorations won't necessarily harm your prospects, you should also be careful about what you display. You might opt for a neutral autumn theme with decorations such as hay bales, pumpkins, and scarecrows. Avoid items that might repel buyers or scare those visiting with small children, such as those with blood and gore.

Decorations designed to scare visitors, such as those that spring out or activate when they sense motion, should also stay in your basement this year. Jaymi Naciri, writing for Realty Times, says large inflatable decorations can also detract from the property's curb appeal or block the sign indicating that your home is for sale.

If Halloween decorating is one of your favorite pastimes, you can still participate when your property is on the market. However, you may want to assemble your spookier display on the day of Halloween for trick-or-treaters to enjoy, then take it down the next morning.

The occasion can work in your favor for marketing your home. FortuneBuilders, a real estate education company, says you might pass out a small flyer or business card with your treats to let the parents of trick-or-treaters know that they can purchase your residence. If you host an open house, you can make it a more enjoyable occasion by hosting seasonal activities such as pumpkin carving and bobbing for apples.

After Halloween has passed, take down your decorations and do a quick inspection of your landscaping. This will alert you to any problems such as discarded candy wrappers, walkway lights that have been accidentally knocked over by visitors, or toilet paper that has been tossed into your trees by pranksters.

Pumpkins can stay out to lend a seasonal touch, but you should keep a close eye on them. Naciri says they should be discarded once they start to rot.

Halloween decorations can easily date your listing photos, so you should use spring or summer photos to showcase the home. FortuneBuilders says that since the autumn season comes with less natural light, you may also want to invest in some interior or landscape lighting to help illuminate your property.