The best time to sell a home is in the springtime, but that doesn’t mean winter is off the table. Sometimes, people have no other option but to sell during winter and that is okay. Selling your home in winter just requires a little more work on the sellers part and a willingness to negotiate a bit more. If you find that you have no choice but to sell during winter time, make sure you do everything you can to ensure that you get the most out of your sale.
Selling your home in the winter is not impossible, it just requires you to be a little more prepared and willing to negotiate your offers.
Spring Photos
There is nothing wrong with using pictures of the home your selling from a different time. What is important is that the photos are recent and show your home as it is today but during a better time of year. Use photos of your home from spring in the same year. For example, if you plan to sell your home this winter, use pictures of your home from this past spring. This will show potential buyers what to expect from your home and to see it in a better light.
No Excuse for Curb Appeal
Selling your home in the winter is no excuse for having terrible curb appeal. During the selling process, always make sure your house looks as good as it can from the street. You never know when a potential buyer might drive by just to get an outside look at your home. If you have a lawn, keep it cut nice and clean, if there are leaves, clean them away. Just make sure your home looks as good as possible.
Light the Way
One of the downsides of selling your home in the winter is a lack of natural light. Most people get off work at 5 pm and therefore, wouldn’t be able to see your home until after the sun has already gone down. There is always the option for weekend viewing but that just means showings will be restricted. Add lighting, as much as possible and as classy as possible. Add floor lamps to the inside of your home and keep them lit during evening hours. You can also add landscape lighting to help keep your front yard well lit. Just don’t overdo it with the lighting or it could become overwhelming.
Stay Flexible
We mentioned that winter hours are very different from spring, the sun goes down earlier, storms could be coming, and families have packed schedules with school, sports, clubs, and work. This means that showings will need to be fluid and you along with them. You may also get a buyer who needs the home in a hurry and who wants to close the deal as soon as possible. On the other hand, you may get a buyer who needs to move a little slower than usual as they fit other things into their schedule as well. Stay flexible with potential buyers every step of the way.
Holiday Decor
There is nothing like driving by a home that has extravagant holiday decor but that home is most likely not for sale. Small amounts of decor could help a buyer see the holidays in the home but not everyone celebrates the same holidays. Avoid using too much holiday decor, a simple garland or holiday dinner place settings but leave the Menorah or nativity scene behind this year. The goal would be to go with a subtle chic holiday decor plan this year, especially if you plan to sell your home before the end of the year.
Leave a Reply