There is no doubt that the real estate market spikes in the summer and spring. There are more buyers, more sellers and more deals being done. That being said, while the market is definitely hotter in the warmer months, there is still a market in the winter.
While many might say it’s better to sell during the peak period, sometimes, people don’t always have that luxury. Maybe you’re getting a new job and moving, or need to get a new house for a growing family; whatever your reason, there might be a need for you to sell your home in the winter. Also, with less competition from other sellers, there is a good chance your listing might receive more interest.
With all of that in mind, there are still fewer buyers in the winter than during the summer. However, that doesn’t have to be a negative. To make sure your home gets the attention it deserves, we have decided to go over a few great tips on how to sell your home in the winter.
1. Embrace the season
One of the most important parts of selling a home is having it staged correctly when people view it. You want them to be able to imagine themselves in your home, so it should be decorated correctly and beautifully. If you show them an empty home, it can be tough for people to imagine what it would look like furnished.
Also, if you are selling near the holidays, it is a good idea to decorate it with some Christmas-themed décor like a tree, some lights, a wreath and more. You should also create a warm and welcoming mood. Tips to do this could be to light candles, have champagne and glasses on the table or even bake some cookies before the open house to fill the home with the delicious smell.
2. Maintain curb appeal
The first impression of potential buyers occurs as soon as they see your home, before they even get inside. As a result, the outside of your home needs to look as good as the inside. It should be clean, any dirt or dust should be taken care of and snow should be shoveled.
Also, you better make sure that any ice has been melted or chipped away as the last thing you want is a potential buyer slipping and falling on their way up your front steps.
3. Keep the temperature warm inside
Just because the temperature is cold outside in the winter, doesn’t mean it needs to be cold inside your home. In fact, it should be quite warm. When people come inside your home to view it, they want to be greeted by warmth and comfort, not a cold and unwelcoming home. A warm home will also help them linger longer and not be turned away by the cold.
It is better to even keep the home a few degrees warmer to keep you from having to turn on the heat when they are in the home, which can be loud. Also, if you have a fireplace, the winter is the perfect time to light it up to not only provide warmth but also because it looks great.
4. Make it move-in ready
When shopping in the winter, buyers generally want to close quickly and move into the home as soon as possible. As a result, you should make your home as “move-in ready” as possible. This will entice more buyers to consider your home as they won’t have to wait the long and cold weeks to finally move into their new home. It could also allow you to raise the asking price due to the improvements.
So how exactly do you make a home move-in ready? This often includes things like updating the paint colors, updating fixtures, ensuring it is well-insulated and that the floors are in good condition.
Very few people want to do renovations or have to fix things up, especially in the dead of winter when they just bought a new home. Making your home ready to move right into will help potentially get you a better deal and ensure the new home owners are happy.
5. Brighten up your home
In the cold winter months, it is often dark when you leave for work in the morning, and dark when you return. As a result, if potential buyers are checking out homes during the week, it will often be dark. As a result, you should be sure to have on most lights in the home to create a warm atmosphere.
Also, if people are viewing the home during the day, you should be sure to open blinds or pull up the shutters. This will let in natural light as well as brighten up the home even more than with just lights alone. You also want to make sure the potential buyers can see the outside of the home even when it’s dark outside, so shining a light on the home or having the outdoor lights on as they arrive is a good idea.
Hopefully this blog post has been helpful in providing you some great tips to sell your home in the winter.
