Selling a Home in the Winter

Selling a Home in the Winter

When it comes to selling, the winter season is often not an ideal time to put your house on the market. If you live in an area where it gets cold, rainy, or snowy, trying to sell a home in winter presents a different set of challenges than in spring or summer. It gets darker earlier, the weather is treacherous, lawns are brown or snow covered, and then of course there are the holidays. But not everyone can wait until the warmer seasons to put their home on the market. There are steps you can take to enhance your home’s allure and make it more appealing to potential buyers, even during the winter.



The first thing you can do is to make sure there is a clear a path to your home. If home buyers can't get to it easily, the house is less likely to sell. Keep walkways and driveways free of snow and ice. If there is street parking, make sure a path from the street to your sidewalk has been cleared. Sprinkle a layer of sand or salt on the walking path to prevent buyer’s from slipping and falling.



Next, make sure to light up your yard. Having a cleared path is of little help if buyers can’t see where they are going. Additionally, having a well-lit driveway and front porch will make your home look more inviting in the darkness of winter.



Now that yours home’s exterior is well lit, its time to brighten its interior. If visitors are coming during the day, clean your windows thoroughly, then open the blinds and push back the drapes to let in as much natural light as possible. If potential home buyers are coming after dark, turn on every light in the house. Brighten dark rooms with additional lighting if needed. The illumination will make your home more cheerful and attractive.



When preparing your home before potential buyers arrive, turn the thermostat up a little bit. If you have one, light your fireplace, but only if it will not be unattended for very long. Having the home heated a degree or two warmer than usual will make it feel inviting and cozy on those cold winter days.



Turn off the television and turn on some soft music. Jazz or classical can be quite soothing and will add to the ambiance of the home. Don't turn on a local radio station, as the commercial interruptions can be loud and annoying. Use a CD or MP3 player to cycle through music and turn it down low so that you just hear it in the background.



As with any other time of the year, you will want to make your home as visually pleasing as possible. Clean the home from top to bottom, starting with ceiling fans and light fixtures and ending with the floors. Clean up dirt, dust, and cobwebs, in addition to making small repairs like re-caulking sinks and replacing cabinet handles. Don’t forget to do the dishes and take out the trash before your guests arrive!



Once it’s clean, set the scene by making your home look comfortable and cozy. In this case, it’s the small things that count, like putting a soft throw on the sofa, folding back comforters on the beds, or hanging plush hand-towels in the bathroom. Set the dining room table as if a meal were about to be served, with nice plates and silverware. Even if the holidays have passed, some festive decorations like wreaths and dried arrangements look attractive all winter long.



Look and sound covered, scent is important, too. Without windows letting in fresh summer air, homes can begin to smell a little stale in the winter, especially if you smoke or have pets. Infuse your home with an inviting scent by baking cookies, cinnamon rolls, apple pie, or by simmering spiced apple cider on the stove. Don’t burn candles or spray deodorizers as some people are allergic to them. Don’t over-do it with sweet smells either, as it can leave buyers wondering what you're trying to conceal.



Even if you're not actually going to be present, treat your potential buyers as if they were guests: feed them. If you have baked a pie or simmered spiced cider, have some available for buyers to sip and snack on. Fresh brewed coffee and donuts or pastries are always a hit. Some people have even offered popular winter comfort foods, like soups, stews, and chili, providing paper bowls and plastic spoons to make clean-up easy. Treating buyers as company will help your home leave a lasting impression on them. Also, providing them something to eat or drink gives buyers a reason to linger longer and perhaps notice aspects of your home they might otherwise have missed.



Finally, when trying to sell your house during the winter time, point out and emphasize the positive attributes it has which might not be as obvious at first glance. Does living at your home provide convenient access to a bus route, local park, shopping venue, or major thoroughfare? These may be points you want to mention to the buyers. Does your home have a nice view? It may be even more apparent in the winter months when trees are bare of leaves. You can never be quite sure about what amenities may click with individual buyers, so think of what makes it great to live in your home and let them know about it.



In some parts of the country, like in the warm southern states where snowbirds flock or popular skiing areas like in Colorado, winter weather doesn’t have that big of an impact on the real estate market. In most parts of the U.S., though, snow, rain, and cold can put a damper on home buying activity. The statistics don’t have to dictate your sale, however. If you put some effort into making potential buyers feel like they’re at home, they just may decide to make it their own.



There is a wide array of Colorado Springs real estate available if you are looking for homes for sale in Colorado Springs. Investing in Colorado Springs real estate property is the best option if you seek the combination of a busy city life and a more relaxed neighborhood. Be sure to consult a reputed Colorado Springs REALTOR for your specific needs.



If you are specifically looking for a commercial real estate in Colorado Springs, please contact Mike Stuard for some of the best Colorado Springs commercial real estate options available.