SELLING A HOME IN WINTER

While it's true that winter isn't peak season for selling a home, by taking a few extra steps it's possible to create the positive impression that brings top dollar.

SELLING A HOME IN WINTER

This morning I spoke with a REALTOR® about a listing where I'd done a staging consultation and asked how things were going. She said that nothing much had happened, just a few showings, and that it was difficult to sell a house this time of year. We agreed that the only people who are looking now are those who really need to, and that activity would probably increase when the weather improves.

If you do need to sell a home in the winter, what are some of the things you can do to attract buyers and make a favorable impression? Here are some thoughts:

Occupied Homes

If the home is occupied, resist the temptation to decorate to your usual extent. Restraint is just as important during the holidays as it is any other time of year. Use only a fraction of the decorations you normally would. Remember there's always next year when you're in your new home.

• Put a simple wreath on the front door, but don't bring out the lighted decorations.
• Put up a Christmas tree, but make sure it's a small one so that the room where it sits looks as large as possible.
• Use only simple ornaments and fewer of them.
• Keep horizontal surfaces clear and do not display small collectibles or cover them with garlands.
• Make use of real and silk seasonal plants like poinsettias for a splash of vibrant color. During the cold gray days of winter, using red creates a very warm and welcoming impression.

Vacant Homes

A vacant home can have a sad and neglected look no matter the season, but in the winter and especially during the holidays, it can look really forlorn.  A lot of the recommendations for occupied homes apply to vacant ones.

• Make the outside of the house look neat and well-maintained by keeping gutters and the roof clear of debris.
• Keep the walkways swept and beds groomed, using fresh mulch where needed.
• Keep the windows washed.
• Put a wreath on the front door.
• Use medium to large scale greenery, silk poinsettias and other seasonal plants to add warmth.
• Create a vignette or two in key areas using colorful accessories in a scale appropriate to the surroundings. Avoid small items.

While it's true that winter isn't peak season for selling a home, by taking a few extra steps it's possible to create the positive impression that brings top dollar.  Update the photos of the house for MLS, print and on-line advertising to show the seasonal decorations and make the listing look fresh and inviting.