ATLANTA — This holiday season you can vote on the best decorated homes in metro Atlanta using the local initiative Holiday Home Hunt.
For the second year in a row, jolly revelers and festive fans of the holidays are allowed the chance to become the judge and nominate their favorite homes on display.
First launched by local real estate agent Michael Ellman and his partners in 2022, participants can nominate homes, including their own, for a chance to win up to $1,500.
In its first year, more than 40 homes participated and more than 1,500 people voted all over the metro, Ellman said.
As an Atlanta native, Ellman said he was inspired by his mother during childhood to create the initiative.
"Growing up in Atlanta, I remember my mother, who's a realtor, used to drive around and she knew where all the best houses were," Ellman described. "I thought it was amazing that we were able to jump in the vehicle and as a family, go see these amazing houses. And I'm not talking just regular houses, I'm talking like Griswold style houses. They were unbelievable."
All these years later, Ellman aims to help families create the same holiday memories.
"It's something that you can do as a family together," Ellman said. "I think that's really amazing and if I can affect people's family memories, I think that's something that can be really amazing."
Here's how it works
Anyone can nominate a holiday-themed home online by filling out this form here.
Apart from showcasing the season's most impressive homes, people can use the same website as a tool to locate them.
Holiday Home Hunt will review all submissions made and email the nominator to confirm their selection.
Homeowners who are nominated will then receive a sign for their front yard showing how people can vote either by text message or QR code. This allows people who search for homes using the home hunt website or in your neighborhood to vote right from your front lawn.
The competition closes on Dec. 27. Owners of the holiday home hunt will be announced shortly after. The highest rated home will win a $1,000 cash prize while the person who nominated them receives $500. If self-nominated, you have the chance to win up to $1,500.
Holiday Home Hunt rules and regulations
Only residential homes are allowed to join the contest.
Contest is for exterior decorations only, including window decorations visible from the exterior.
No homes within a gated community without public access will be considered.
Consent of all homeowners is given prior to presenting their home on the site.
To view the full list of regulations, click here.
Examples of past submissions include last year's runner up, 'Lights of Joy,' Georgia's largest residential Christmas light display that includes over 1.2 million lights.
Ellman encourages everyone to take part this holiday season. As Holiday Home Hunt enters its second year, he hopes to see more submissions from locations like Sandy Springs and Buckhead.
For more information, click here.