January 27, 2016

Tips for Selling Your Home in Winter

Tips for Selling Your Home in Winter

Selling during cold weather months can have plenty of advantages, not the least of which is a low number of competitor houses. But short days, chilly weather and snowy conditions can present their own unique set of challenges. If you are planning to sell your home in the wintertime, follow these tips:

Keep it Cleared.

Always keep all driveways and walkways shoveled and salted. Be sure to keep any outdoor entertaining areas you want to feature cleared as well. In addition to keeping potential buyers and their agents safe, clearing walkways can highlight some of the most important elements of your home’s curb appeal.

Keep it Warm.

This one is pretty simple. Someone viewing your home will be unlikely to linger if their teeth are chattering. Even if your personal preference is to keep the home cooler when you are not home, consider that others may prefer it nice and toasty. If you have a fireplace, light it up! You want your home to be viewed as warm and cozy, not chilly and harsh.

Keep it Bright.

With short winter days comes the likelihood that most people visiting your home will visit in the dark. Consider your outdoor lighting to ensure that all pathways are safe and your outside spaces are clearly visible. Also, experiment with the best lighting inside the home without any sunlight coming in.

Keep it Clean.

Dirty floors are seemingly inevitable with all the snow and salt being tracked in, but take extra measures to ensure your floors look great. Utilize walk-off mats. Leave shoes trays and towels by the door. A quick Swiffer-ing before each showing can keep your hard surface flooring looking clean. Be sure to keep your cleaning gear out of sight. A mop by the front door screams High Maintenance!

Keep it Festive.

The winter months are ripe with holidays and occasions to celebrate. Embrace them! A home buyer wants to picture themselves making their own memories in their new home, so why not help their imaginations out? Try not to make the décor overly personalized, but feel free to deck the halls!

Bonus Tip… If possible, use warm weather images of your home’s exterior. This will be the very best way to feature your home’s curb appeal when the weather warms up.

No matter what time of year you are considering selling your home, it is important to seek the advice of a local real estate expert. Every market is different and a Realtor can advise you on the trends in your local market and devise a property marketing plan that will optimize your homes best features.

If you are thinking of selling your home in the Chester County PA or surrounding areas, please let us know. We’d love to help!