Top Tips for Selling Your Home in Winter
When it comes to serious buyers who want or need to purchase a home before spring, explore our top tips for preparing and selling a home in winter!
A staggering 842,000 houses were sold in the United States in 2020 alone. Are you getting ready to sell your home but worried about the cold temperatures affecting the process?
You may have heard that there are times when the market is hot, and it's a good time of year to sell your home. While this is true, and spring tends to be the most popular time to sell, there are plenty of homebuyers that need to purchase a home now, prior to the spring.
Don't let winter stop you. Here's how you can start selling a home in winter.
Create a Clear Path
Most importantly, you want to protect everyone's safety by clearing a path to your home. Shovel through the snow and salt the driveway and sidewalk.
Mixing ice melt with sand creates traction and helps you reduce the amount of salt you need to use.
Not only does this prevent anyone from slipping and falling, but it also makes your home seem more inviting. You're essentially saying to prospective homebuyers, "come on in."
You might want to consider using a mat near the front door for people to place their wet boots. This prevents people from tracking snow and salt through the house.
Bring in Natural Light
Since it gets darker sooner in the wintertime, and overcast days can create a gloomy atmosphere, you want to make your home seem as bright as possible.
Pull back the curtains, open the blinds, and let the natural light in. This also allows homebuyers to enjoy the views from inside the house. Turn on lights to brighten up dark corners and make your home cozier.
Mirrors also allow light to bounce off the surface, making an area brighter. Hang one across from the windows in your home to instantly increase the amount of light let in.
Stage It Right
Staging your home highlights the house's best features, makes people feel welcome, and lets you sell more quickly.
Staging isn't simply decorating, although many people envision furniture and decorations when they hear the word. It's simply the process of preparing your home for sale and appealing to more buyers.
When you stage, you should declutter or move out. Repair and update the home to make it more appealing. Make sure it's clean, and take down anything personal such as family photographs.
Use decorating tips, such as laying down a colorful rug, to add personality and brighter colors. Try to appeal to as many people as possible.
Make your home seem cozy and warm by throwing a decorative blanket across the couch, hanging plush robes in the bathroom, and setting up washcloths and towels to make it look like you're ready to welcome guests.
You might want to play soft music as well to add to the overall ambiance.
Consider a Cleaning Service
You want your home to sparkle, and deep cleaning takes time, especially in larger and older homes. You're likely already busy with work, your family, and the stress of the move. It might benefit you to hire a cleaning service.
Prices vary by location, the size of the house, and how much cleaning needs to be done, but moving out cleaning services usually cost between $150-$450 or so. It's a worthy investment if you don't have time to clean yourself and if you want to appeal to more buyers.
A sparkling clean house that looks and smells good is more likely to sell after all!
Keep It Warm Inside
Make sure your home is warm and comfortable inside. Set the thermostat and encourage buyers to linger. When it's warm and comfortable inside, they might spend more time in your house, which can benefit you.
You don't want to overdo it and set the thermostat too high since this can make people uncomfortable in their heavier winter clothes. Keep it comfortable and around 65-68 degrees Fahrenheit or so.
One of the benefits of selling your home in winter is that you can highlight your home's cold preparedness. Energy-efficient windows seem more appealing and impressive when it's toasty warm inside. A new HVAC system also makes a great selling point.
The Benefits of Selling a Home in Winter
While many people sell their homes in spring, there are some benefits to selling in winter.
Some homes look even better in winter, making it the ideal time to sell. Homes with certain architectural styles, wooden beams, fireplaces, and stone accents just feel cozy and inviting in the colder months. People might feel the urge to curl up under a warm blanket, grab a hot chocolate, and read by the fireplace.
In the spring and summer, homeowners need to worry about curb appeal more. During the winter, you simply need to make your house look presentable and welcoming. No need to worry about mowing the lawn, trimming the trees, or tending the garden when winter rolls around.
For many people, the start of the new year is also the prime time for starting a new job. Job relocations often happen in January, and these buyers are looking to get settled in their new home as quickly as possible. Many workers receive assistance from their employers, making the process easier for both parties.
Homes also look more festive in the winter, close to the holiday season. People may put out holiday lights and decorations, giving buyers a good look at the neighborhood's holiday spirit. The holiday season often evokes positive feelings in people, which can benefit you as you try to sell your home.
Selling a Home in Winter Is Possible
Not only is selling a home in winter possible, but in some cases, it can even be a great idea. You appeal to a different group of buyers, and you have less competition to face.
If you're selling a home in Fulton or Franklin County this winter, let Palmer Realty, your PA real estate experts, help you out. Our agents are here for you and ready to help you sell. Call us or send us a message today to get started.