Selling In The Winter: 4 Tips For Maximizing The Attraction Of Homebuyers

Posted on: 24 December 2015

Share

If you're trying to sell a home during the winter, you may have been told that you are making a huge mistake. However, despite what many believe, research shows that selling a home in the winter months can actually be advantageous. The data shows that homes listed in the winter are more likely to actually sell, and sell roughly a week quicker. If you have your home up on the market already or are planning to do so soon, here are four things that you need to do to still help attract homebuyers and keep them interested:

1. Keep Walking and Driving Areas Free of Snow and Ice.

One of the problems with selling a home during the winter is the weather. However, for motivated buyers, the weather won't stop them. At the same time, they don't want to get hurt looking at a house. So, as a responsible seller, you need to make sure that your home is easily accessible to prospective buyers. This means ensuring all driveways, sidewalks, steps, etc. are free from both snow and ice. Not only does this work as a safety guard, but it also helps with the appearance of your home. If you can't do this yourself, hire a company to shovel and salt the walkways and driveway.

2. Make Sure You Have That Fireplace Crackling.

One of the best things you can do as a seller is to ensure that your home feels inviting to interested buyers. An excellent way to do this is to have a fire going in your fireplace. This provides a very welcoming and cozy feeling to the space, while also keeping your guests warm as they peruse the home for sale. Only do this if you or your real estate agent are going to be present during the showing, as fires shouldn't be left unattended.

3. Keep the Heat Cranked Up.

If you don't have a fireplace, you do need to make sure that the heat is turned up. The last thing a potential buyer wants to do is walk into a cold home. If your home has a programmable thermostat, which it should since it could be a selling point with its energy-saving capabilities, you can set it so that the temperature rises in the house before your guests arrive. You may want to speak to an HVAC expert to inspect the ducting and vents to ensure there are no leaks or issues to avoid cold rooms during walkthroughs. After all, roughly 20-30 percent of air is lost through old, leaking ductwork.

4. Add Warm Touches Throughout the House.

Staging your home is crucial to quick selling. During the winter, a couple of staging tips that you should consider include having a quilt folded and placed neatly at the foot of the bed in the bedroom and a folded throw blanket draped over the arm of a recliner or sofa.

If you need help getting your property ready to sell, contact a local realty services company for assistance.