Selling a Home During Winter Months
You can sell your home in April. You can sell your home in July. You can sell your home in October. And yes, you can sell your home in November, December, January or February!! Never let the colder temperatures discourage you in your pursuit of selling your home!
Benefits of selling a house in the winter
Motivated buyers. The buyers actively shopping for a new home in the winter are likely very motivated.
- often moving because of a job relocation, change in financial situation, or change in family needs.
Why you should sell your home in the Winter
‘Tis the season
There are ways to make your home the most appealing home that a potential buyer will walk in to during these darker, colder months of the year
First things first- clear your snow! Let a potential buyer have easy access to your driveway, walkway and even the sidewalk. Give them a safe passage to admire the outside of your home.
Inside the house, open all the blinds and curtains and let the light in! Make sure the windows are as clean and sparkling as they can be. Shine the chrome up in the kitchen and washrooms. Grab a stool and dust off those ceiling fan blades and fixtures. Wash and polish floors and vacuum daily. Clean out the fridge and oven. Empty any trash cans and take out with the recycling every day.
Go ahead and create a warm and inviting mood throughout your home. You could set the dining room table, adding in some decorative candles and such. Place some cozy throws over the arm of the living room couch. Place a breakfast tray with a coffee cup and magazine in the bedroom. Turn the bathroom into a spa- roll some nice plush towels and place into a basket, hang a snuggly robe on the door and create an arrangement of lotion and soaps on the counter.
Make sure your home is warm and comfortable – the advantage to turning the thermostat up an extra degree or two than normal is that it will prevent the furnace from kicking on when the buyer is there (some HVAC systems can be loud). If you have a wood-burning fireplace, you could light it up but try not to leave it unattended for too long.
Music can be a nice addition, though despite the season, avoid playing any traditional Christmas music. Jazz or perhaps classical can be soothing and create nice background noise. Just remember if you are streaming music, turn off your notifications as you do not want to disturb the flow of music. Scents can add to the ambiance of your home but try not to be heavy handed- bear in mind some people are allergic to heavy perfumes. Instead try simmering fresh spices like cinnamon and cloves on the stove top and let them release their scent into the air.
The winter months see earlier evenings- consider installing timers so that lights will come on throughout the house if you will not be home before a scheduled showing.
Make your home feel like one big welcoming hug to all who enter to see and before you know it, you will have sold your home despite the cold.
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