Real Estate Selling in Winter: How to Get Ready?

Many residential owners have misconceptions about selling their homes during the freezing winter months. When the mercury drops, buyers do not want to venture out and feel the chilly weather, and it makes a property look drab. Home sellers often wait for spring which they believe the market is hot.

Not true, actually selling in winter can be financially rewarding than other seasons. Data from the National Association of Realtors indicates that more than a million homes were sold in the U.S. from December 2019 to February 2020.

There is less competition, with fewer inventory in the winter this is the best time to put your home on the market. There are more serious buyers, they don’t want to miss out on their ideal home by taking a risk that another buyer will acquire the property before spring comes.

Owning a commercial property is unlike having a residential real estate, a commercial property management team takes care of most of the day-to-day tasks off an owner’s plate. The team handles tenant relations up to the accounting works.

Here’s a list of what residential sellers should be doing to improve the appeal of their house for a successful sale.

1. Turn Up the Heat

Remember that your buyers are coming in from the cold and warm home is a welcome respite. The temperature inside should be comfortable enough to keep the buyer to linger longer. About 65 degrees should do the trick, a click from your smartphone will adjust your thermometer remotely and will appeal to buyers.

If you have a fireplace, be sure to light it up during showings. Throw in some blankets, rugs, and pillows to make the space feel warm and cozy.

2. Ease Up on the Scents

What smells good to you might not go well with your buyers, many people are allergic to scent. Avoid spraying or plug-in air fresheners and don’t spray perfume in rooms or light candles.

Bake some nice cinnamon cookies, the aroma will not be left unnoticed by prospective buyers. While at it boil some spice water on the stove ready for tea as they tour your house.

3. Create a Mood

Buyers are braving the snow to look at your showing, so be sure that they are received well when they get there. Make every space in your house feel cozy and inviting. To start on a warm note, bring your hospitality to the next level by offering hot drinks to your guests when they arrive.

Make your living room look warm and comfy, if you have a fireplace light it up. Toss some pillows on your sofa.

Dress your dining room table for dinner, put some fine china on display.

Be sure that afghans in the rooms are properly spread out and deck the bed with a breakfast tray with a coffee cup, saucer, and napkins.

Organize your bathroom by grouping towels, washcloth, soap, shampoo, and lotion.

4. Handle The Ice and Snow

Pathways should be cleared from snow for easier accessibility to the house and the amenities it offers. Fallen snow can hide visual cues on the steps to a walkway and can result in an accident.

Footprints on snow can easily turn to ice during sub-zero temperature, sprinkle some sand or salt over them. The path from the street to the sidewalk should be cleared so guests don’t have to plow through snow to reach the house.

By clearing pathways, you are showing potential buyers that the house is well-tended, both outside and inside. Physical obstacles are removed from the sight of your visitors displaying your property’s boundaries, hence they will have a clear idea of the size and look of your property.

5. Make it Fresh & Bright

The snow on your ground makes it fresh and bright. Why not bring the beauty of the winter wonderland inside your home?

Open the curtains to view the whiteness of the snow and let the sunshine in to illuminate and bring warmth to your space. Remove window screens, if there are any, to bring more UV rays into your home.

Paint the room with a bright color to make it pop and the ceiling with white to make it look cheerful.

Dark furniture will make a space look gloomy, invest in light-colored slipcovers for your armchair and sofa to enlighten the space.

Swap light bulbs, consider switching from warm white to cool white which could add brightness.

Switch from a darker rug to a light-colored one or remove it altogether to let the natural light reflect on your glossy hardwood.

6. Show Buyers How Your House Looks During the Spring and Summer

Gather some snapshots and place them in a photo album for your guests to browse. This will give them an idea of what the house looks like during other months. Remember to highlight your exterior features like garden beds, patio, and deck with furniture.

Consider creating a digital slideshow or a 3D tour showing your house during the daytime. Potential buyers usually visit homes when it’s dark, it makes the home feel smaller and the outdoors is hard to picture.

7. Enhance Your Curb Appeal

Winter is a signal that Christmas is just around the corner, you can install some warm lights and decors on the exterior of your home. But don’t overdo it, keep it as simple as possible like steady white lights instead of the flashing multicolor lights and a wreath at the door will do the trick. This will give the idea of how beautiful the interior is when the outdoor is well cared for.

When the snow covers the ground the lot lines are not visible, define the property boundaries by using bright-colored flags tied to stakes on the four corners of the lot.

Keep the decks, patios, and walkways shoveled and salted so potential buyers can experience your outdoor space. If the weather permits, place some furniture so they can view your landscape.

8. Get Organized

Clutter makes a space look disorganized and messy. Get rid of excessive personal items, furniture, and fixtures that muddle the key features of your room as well as the size and flow. Organize the remaining items and place them in containers and baskets then stack them in cabinets, drawers, or closets. Only use things that you need.