Winter Selling Season Offers a Breath of Fresh Air for Those Looking to Make a Move

While the temperatures have been unseasonably warm this winter, it’s important to remember that when it comes to the weather, you can never know for sure what’s around the corner. And as the Farmer’s Almanac tells it, we’re due for some heavy snowfalls in the near future. Taking heed of the following tips when trying to sell your home in the snow can be the difference between a hot sale or a deep freeze.

While some real estate professionals in snow-heavy climates may encourage their clients to wait until the temperature warms up before putting their house on the market, for some, listing a home during the winter is necessary. Plus, with less inventory coming to market, your home may have a better chance of making it onto a house hunter’s must-see list.

If your home is currently on the market—or you plan on listing it at some point this winter—the most important thing you’ll need to do when it snows is shovel the driveway in addition to a path to the house. While you’re at it, take the time to clear an area outside the home so that prospective buyers can take a peek at the yard. You might even consider adding a snowman or snow angel to help visitors envision the memories they can make in the space once it’s theirs.  

When it comes to the outside of the home, it’s also important to remove large chunks of snow from bushes and clean up any debris and branches that may have fallen as a result of powerful winds and heavy snowfall, especially if you’re holding an open house on a ‘snow day.’ House hunters and their real estate agents aren’t going to want to walk up to a house if they need to slush through the snow to see it. Remember, there are no second chances when it comes to first impressions.

Be sure to remove snow and icicles from windows as well so that potential buyers can get a clear look outside and see the natural light come into the home. Sometimes snow can leave watery streaks on windows or glass doors that may hurt the look of a room, so grab some window cleaner and let your windows and doors shine.

Once the outside of your home is properly prepared, lay a large mat inside the front door so that visitors can clean their shoes off before they have a chance to track snow throughout the space. While it’s okay for real estate professionals to suggest that people take off their shoes, you shouldn’t require it. Just be sure to mop up after each showing.

And last but not least, during the open house, have some hot chocolate and a plate of freshly baked cookies waiting for visitors. You may even want to keep the fireplace burning to create a truly cozy environment. Just be sure your agent is there to not only keep the fire lit, but to put it out at the end of the showing.

There’s nothing quite as beautiful as a fresh coat of snow, undisturbed by footprints, and there’s no reason why snow should keep you from selling your home.

For more information about selling your home this winter, contact our office today.

Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2016. All rights reserved.