The holiday festivities and cold weather may have you contemplating holding off on listing your home until after the first of the year, especially if you go by the myth that nobody buys houses during the winter. However, there are still plenty of home shoppers looking to make a move as the colder temperatures set in. Oftentimes, the additional time off work around the holidays makes it a prime time for busy professionals to focus on finding their next home. To make your house more appealing to these potential buyers, try these winter staging tips.
Add Simple Winter Decorations
While you want to avoid going all out with holiday lights and decor, you can use the wintery season to your advantage to impress potential buyers. Simple and elegant decor can take your home up a notch, add winter touches with:
- Pinecone wreaths
- Seasonal flowers and greenery
- Twinkling lights to highlight landscaping features
Make Your Home Cozy and Welcoming
As the weather gets colder, we all want to have that feeling of coziness, especially when entering your home. If your home has a fireplace, now is the time to highlight it to let potential buyers imagine cuddling up to stay toasty as snow blankets the outside. Add a few throw blankets tastefully draped and pillows to your couches. You should also add lamps or lighting to spaces that may seem too dark and dreary.
Highlight Natural Elements
With the days getting shorter, you want to show off the natural light your home offers best you can. Ensure all curtains and blinds are open to show off the amount of natural light the windows provide and make sure all light fixtures are working.
Don’t Forget the Outdoor Spaces
While spending time outside is often limited during the winter, you should still stage your patio and porches to show off what those spaces offer. Sure, the pool must stay covered because of the cold temperatures, but you can leave some seating to let potential buyers imagine spending warm days by the pool. Highlight spacious porches with rocking chairs or swings. If there is a firepit or space to add one, show the potential of sharing memories around the campfire.
Stay On Top of Cleaning
While it is important to tidy up any time of year when your home is listed for sale, tracking in mud and outside debris increases during the winter. Since your entryway will be the first impression of your home, it is essential to keep the area organized so buyers are not welcomed by muddy shoes and wet gloves. Ensure you triple clean heavy traffic areas where debris and snow can get tracked in from outside.
While selling your home during the busy holiday season is not for everyone, it could be a great time to take advantage of the local seller’s market. Contact us for more tips about listing your home in the winter, and help you decide if it is the right option for you.