There is no denying it—the best time to buy and sell is when the market is booming in the spring and summer. However, selling during the winter season is becoming more common and is not impossible to do. Follow the tips below to ensure your home is inviting and enticing to buyers during the colder months of the year.
1. Now that winter is here and trees are bare, it is even more important to make curb appeal a priority because your home is more exposed. Be sure to touch up the paint and clean the gutters to improve the appearance of your house. It is also a good idea to keep prospective buyers’ safety in mind by clearing snow, ice and leaves from your walkways and and stairs.
2. Try to make buyers feel warm and cozy when they are viewing your home. If you have a fireplace, consider lighting a fire, or perhaps light a few candles throughout your home (nothing too strong of course), to create an inviting atmosphere. As a nice finishing touch, bake some tasty treats and have hot cocoa or cider to offer to buyers as they tour your home.
3. Having high-quality photographs of your home is even more important during the winter months than any other time of the year because homebuyers will more likely be doing their house hunting from the comfort of their homes. It is also good practice to include a summer or spring photo of your home, if possible, when listing your house on the market so buyers can see how the yard and foliage looks year-round.
4. It is also encouraged to have a virtual tour of your home available as well; you may experience less foot traffic during the holiday season due to weather and traveling plans. Having a video tour could potentially attract buyers who are not available to physically tour your home or may not want to risk driving in a snowstorm.