Winter Weather Shouldn’t Keep You From Selling

While the vast majority of home buyers want to wait until spring or summer, there are plenty of people looking to relocate throughout the fall and winter. As a seller, you can capitalize on this market of serious buyers. Unfortunately, Mother Nature is working against you, and the frightful weather outdoors doesn’t always lend well to curb appeal. Scates Real Estate shares the following tips to help your home stand out in the wind, rain, and snow.

First, focus on the outdoors.

The trees have lost their leaves, and your shrubs are a bit bare. But that does not mean that your entire property has to be a wasteland. There are plenty of planting options, including adding a hearty flower garden, that will add a sense of livelihood to your lawn. Try landscaping with witch hazel, which is a shrub perfectly capable of producing flowers well into January. Holly and Japanese pieris are other live options that can create visual interest from the street, even in the snow. If your lawn and garden could use more than some well-placed shrubbery, look into freelance landscape design services to help you create a stand-out yard.

Something else to consider is updating the garage door. These large entryways often take abuse from wayward basketballs and the accidental bumper bump. You don’t necessarily have to replace it, and something as simple as a coat of paint, faux windows, and new hardware, which you can pick up at Lowes or Home Depot, will give the garage a whole new look.

If it’s too cold to paint or plant, still make an effort to keep things clean. At minimum, sweep the walkway and ensure the steps are ice-free.

Set the stage for success.

While the exterior of your home is the first thing potential buyers see upon arrival, they make a snap judgment starting with your pictures online. If you want the best response, you’ll have to clean up the inside by first getting rid of those personal touches you love so much. Your bowling trophy has no place in a home that’s on the market, and won’t look good in your listing images.

Your next step is to ensure that you are maximizing natural light as well as floorspace. If you have heavy drapes, replace them with sheer curtains. Move anything blocking light out of the way, even if it means rearranging or getting a smaller Christmas tree. While you’re moving things around, pay close attention to how open each room is. People that are buying do not want to see your furniture – especially if it’s full of patterned upholstery or outdated fabric. What they want is a blank canvas to envision what their life looks like behind your front door.

Create a focal point.

Each room should be as empty as possible, but that does not mean a few strategically-placed pieces of furniture or accessories are out of the question. Case in point: the fireplace. DIYS.com’s gallery of fireplace decorating ideas can serve as inspiration; a few things they suggest are adding greenery, sticking to an eye-catching black and white theme, or creating a whitewashed winter wonderland around the hearth.

Similarly, in the dining room, make your table the center of attention by adding seasonal place settings. In the kitchen, the counter space should do the talking. Clear everything that is not essential to your day-to-day life -- do leave the coffee maker and an invitation for a free cup, however.

Open house or by appointment only?

The decision to host an open house is one you should discuss with your real estate agent. Most agents note that it’s typically a good idea to have your home open at least once in the early days of your listing. LUXVT smartly suggests tempting potential buyers with hot cocoa and making sure the home is nice and toasty, both of which will encourage them to linger a bit longer. The more time they spend in the house, the more likely they are to develop an emotional attachment, which is a motivating factor for people to choose one house over another.

There’s no denying the fact that moving during the winter is tough. If your home is on the market over Christmas, keeping the kids’ new toy cache stashed out of the way might be your biggest challenge. But, when you have – or want – to move, you shouldn’t let colder temps get in your way.

Are you ready to sell your Plymouth area home? Then connect with the Scates Real Estate team for realty services you can count on. We’re here to help you get the best deal on your home with the least amount of hassle. Call today! (612) 877-2100