10 Sure Fire Tips to Sell your Home in Winter
Winter is definitely not the most ideal time to sell your home but in
some cases it simply may not be possible to avoid it. If you find
yourself falling into this situation it is important to keep in mind
that while the season may not be cooperating with your home selling
plans there are some things you can do to make your home as attractive
to prospective buyers as possible.
1. One of the first things you can do to liven interest in your home
even during the dreariest of winter to months is to make sure that you
keep your walkways and driveways shoveled clear of ice and snow. This
makes the home appear to be well maintained in addition to making it
much easier for prospective buyers to access your home. If handling this
on your own is a problem considering hiring a service to handle the
matter for you-it can be a wise investment that pays off in the long
run.
2. Be sure your home appears to be warm and cozy to prospective buyers
when it is shown. If you regularly keep the thermostat turned down to
conserve energy consider adjusting it somewhat so that the presents
well. The same goes for the fireplace-if your home has one, show it off.
3. Winter months tend to be somewhat dreary and bleak. Don't allow that
to translate into sluggish sales syndrome where your home is concerned.
Take advantage of all the natural light you can during daylight hours.
Be sure curtains and blind are clean and that they are pulled open
during home showings. Along the same lines, take the time to be sure
light fixtures and lamps are clean and outfitted with the highest
wattage bulbs they can accommodate. For rooms that still seem
particularly dark, consider placing some spotlights on the floor behind
furniture to lighten things up a bit.
4. It's also important to make sure that the windows are washed. This is
often one area that is overlooked by sellers but it can make a huge
difference. Not only will your home appear more welcoming but it will
also look well-maintained; something that is often important to
prospective buyers.
5. Consider staging your home appropriately for showings. Buyers like to
be able to see themselves living in the home. You can easily do this by
setting the hearth for a fire, folding back the comforter on the bed,
placing a throw and a book on the sofa, etc.
6. Take advantage of timers. This helps your home to look more appealing
and welcoming, particularly at night, during the rush hour. In addition,
it adds additional security for your home when you're not at home. Along
the same lines make sure you have enough illumination to clearly light
the path to the home's entrances.
7. One of the best things about winter is the holidays. You can easily
use this to your advantage if you are selling your home. Create a
festive atmosphere with holiday decorations and having a warm plate of
cookies and a hot beverage ready to offer to prospective buyers. Hot
cocoa, coffee, tea and hot apple cider are excellent choices during the
winter. This creates a great first impression.
8. Be sure your home has a nice smell. Oftentimes we tend to overlook
the faint musty smell a home can develop during the winter months when
we live there. Besides making sure the house is spotlessly clean it's a
good idea to either pop a sheet of cookies into the oven to create a
nice homey smell or light a couple of scented candles. When it's time to
show your home, turn on some soft soothing music to
play in the background. This creates atmosphere and immediately puts
everyone at ease. Classical music is one of the best choices and is
usually well appreciated by everyone.
9. Don't wait until spring actually arrives to give your house a good
spring cleaning. Take the time now to clean out all the cobwebs, wash
and wax the floors, clean out the fridge (just in case buyers look) dust
the furniture, polish chrome faucets and all mirrors and handle any
re-caulking that needs to be done around sinks, showers and tubs.
10. Consider giving you and your home a competitive edge by providing
information buyers might easily miss or not think to ask. This can
easily be done by printing up information on cards and placing them in
appropriate rooms of the house. For example, if all the appliances in
the kitchen were recently replaced, print it up and place a card in the
kitchen.
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