Don't let the thought of
sellin
g your home in the winter dampen your holiday spirit. Yes, it is a slower selling time, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. With these considerations you'll be able to attract more buyers to your home in the winter and sell in no time.
Price your home well the first time
Less competition in the winter doesn't mean that your home can be priced higher than normal or more than what your home is worth. Your home should be priced appropriately. House hunters will be expecting discounts in the colder months because there is a sense of urgency from the seller.
Remember that buyers will look elsewhere if your price is too high. So be sure to have it listed at a realistic price when you put it on the market.
Pictures
Pictures are almost mandatory when selling your home, especially in the winter because people won't be out looking for "for sale" signs. Instead, they're going to be cozy on their couches in front of a laptop. If you are listing your home online through an agent, the agent should have the advertising photos taken before it snows.
If that's not possible, then also include a photo of your home from the summer or spring so buyers can get a year-round look at your home. Be sure that the photos are high quality so that buyers can really get a good first impression of your home, even if it's through the web. Another option is to display pictures of your flowers in full bloom on a table during showings.
Consider adding in a video tour of your home. You're going to get less foot traffic during the colder season, so bring some web traffic to your listing to attract house hunters.
Make your home inviting
When you are able to
have showings and open houses, make your home as inviting as possible. Crank up the heat a little bit, offer homemade treats and hot drinks to your potential buyers. The more time they can spend in your home, the more they'll be able to appreciate the possibilities.
Creating a warm interior is helpful during the cold and dreary winter months. Try adding plush soft blankets, luxurious fabrics or a silky tablecloth to emphasize comfort.
Stage the interior
When hosting open houses and showing your home to potential buyers, make sure that your home is staged. Staging is essentially curb appeal for the interior of your home. It shows your home in its best light. Staging makes your home look inviting, warm and friendly, no matter how cold and dreary it is outside. When staging your home, de-clutter as much as possible and keep things stored away to make your home look extra roomy and open.
TIP: Remove family photos and memorabilia when showing your home, so that buyers can envision themselves in the home.
Curb appeal still matters
During the winter months, bare trees make your home more exposed to the elements. If your home needs
some paint touch ups, do your best to take care of them before the weather really turns on you.
Curb appeal should still be taken into consideration when selling during the winter months.
Also, if your home is decorated for the holidays, make sure that they are in good repair and not too showy. You want the house to speak for itself, and too many winter decorations could make the house look cluttered.
If it's recently snowed, make sure that your walkways are cleared and there is no ice. It would be a shame to start off a showing or open house with one of your potential buyers slipping and falling on a patch of ice you missed.
Ultimately, selling your home in the winter might be more difficult, but it's not impossible. Buyers in the winter can be more motivated to buy. Go through your home with a fine-toothed comb when you're trying to sell in the winter and make sure the details are taken care of before inviting potential buyers into your home.