9 Tips for Selling Your House in
Winter
Written by Laura Gaskill, from
www.realtytimes.com
With people away on trips and cold
weather making house hunting less appealing, winter can be a challenging time
to sell your home. On the other hand, fewer homes on the market means yours
will get more attention from buyers. By upping the cozy factor, making the most
of winter assets and paying attention to details, you can make your house
really stand out.
Here are nine ways to prepare and
stage your home for success, and create a warm and welcoming vision for buyers,
even when the weather outside is frightful.
1. Have a cozy, crackling fire (or
not)
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| Photo by Whitten Architects |
If you have a gas fireplace or new clean burning wood stove or fireplace? Go
ahead and light a fire to welcome visitors. But if your home's wood-burning
fireplace is older and leaves a smoky smell in the room, hold off. Those with
allergies or smoke sensitivities can be turned off — or literally turned away
when they have to go outside. No fire? Consider offering warm apple cider
instead.
2. Keep entryways scrupulously clean.
As with any time of year, a clean
and clutter-free house will sell more easily (and maybe at a higher price) than
one with more visible clutter. During winter it is especially important to
remove mucky boots outside and keep family gear hidden in a closet or trunk,
where potential buyers won't trip over them. A Swiffer-style mop kept in the
coat closet can be used to quickly freshen entry floors before each showing.
3. Give each room a warm touch.
A folded throw draped over the back
of an armchair, a plump quilt at the foot of the bed or an area rug in warm
hues are a few small additions that will make a big difference in the way a
room feels to prospective buyers. Also, be sure that every light is on — even
for daytime showings. Winter days can be quite dim, and your house will look
its best when it's as warmly lit as possible.
4. Show how outdoor rooms can be
used even in the coldest months.
If you have a covered porch or
outdoor fireplace, be sure to keep the area fully furnished. Turn on outdoor lights, light a fire in the fire pit, drape warm throw blankets across seating areas.
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| Photo by Laurel & Wolf |
5. Emphasize spaces that will appeal
in winter.
Basement playrooms, indoor exercise
areas, heated toolsheds and the like will be especially welcome in a place with
a cold winter. Remove all unrelated stuff to make the purpose of the room
clear, and be sure to have your Realtor bring it up when showing the house to
potential buyers.
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| Photo by Designing Solutions |
6. Showcase the entertaining
possibilities of your home.
Winter is prime time for festive
parties and holiday open houses, so whet prospective buyers' appetites with an
enticing display. Set out stacks of plates and fresh flowers on a dining room
buffet or display holiday cookies on cake stands in the kitchen.
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| Photo by House & Home |
7. Use structural elements in the
garden for winter interest.
In the middle of winter, it can be
hard to visualize a blooming garden. Large urns and planters, benches, rock
walls and other garden structures will help buyers see the potential even in
the snow.
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| Photo by The Garden Consultants, Inc. |
8. Clear all exterior pathways of
snow and ice.
Nothing will turn away potential
buyers faster than a treacherously icy path. Open-house guests should be able
to easily walk all the way around the house and access outbuildings. Provide as
much off-street (snow-cleared) parking as you can to make things easy for
visitors.
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| Photo by Rustic Garages |
9. Do decorate for the holidays.
Buyers want to be able to envision living in your home, so it pays to make that vision as inviting as possible. Festive twinkling lights, green wreaths or topiary, and a decorated tree near Christmas will strike the right note. That doesn't mean you have to go overboard — in fact, a house overly cluttered with holiday decor, or leftover Christmas decorations on display in January and February can be a real turnoff. Additionally, be aware of the desperate lack of daylight in the winter. If you have winter showings, light up your house. It starts getting dark at 3:30pm now. Dark houses don't show well.
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| Photo by Bldg Collective |
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