Best Tips for Selling a Home in the Winter

If you think that no one buys or sells a home during the winter, you're wrong. According to DaveRamsey.com, almost a million homes were sold in the United States last winter—973,000 from December 2018 to February 2019. Almost one-fifth of the homes that were sold in the 12 months between September 2018 and August 2019 were sold when temperatures plunged. Why put off selling your home until spring? There are actually advantages to selling your home while Jack Frost is nipping at your nose. Here are some tips for selling your home in winter.

Buyers Know No Seasons

Most buyers go online looking for homes for sale, no matter what the temperature is outside. Buyers are always on the lookout for new listings, so even though the weather's changing, it won't stop homebuyers from shopping. Since spring is the hottest home-buying season, there'll also be fewer homes on the market in the winter, meaning your home could sell faster.

Year-End Benefits

Winter homebuyers looking for homes for sale in Lake Wallenpaupack may also be motivated to capture the tax benefits of buying a home before year-end. Since most people have extra time off from work during the holidays, they'll have more time for browsing their favorite home apps and scheduling a visit to your home. Also, those year-end bonuses can help with home down payments, so prospective buyers may be ready to find that forever home.

Open House Outdoor Prep

Remember, the nicer your home looks, the more likely it will sell—and for more money. Winter days get dark early, so brighten your home's exterior with outdoor lighting, such as floodlights, spotlights, or path lighting. Avoid a winter wonderland outside your home by clearing away any snow and ice from your walkways, driveway, and front door. Homes look nicer in the spring and summer when they're surrounded by green grass and foliage, so make sure you have some warm-weather photos of your home online so potential buyers can see your landscaping and envision enjoying the outside. Also, remove all outside décor, including Christmas decorations, such as Christmas lights and inflatables.

Staging the Inside

It's easier to make a house feel like a home in the wintertime. Nothing says welcome home quite like walking out of the cold into a warm and cozy house. Keep the thermostat set at a toasty 68 to 70 degrees. Showcase your fireplace. Light a fire in the hearth, play soft holiday music in the background, and prepare fresh-baked cookies, coffee, and hot chocolate for guests. Make sure to depersonalize and declutter each room in your home. Keep it simple. If your home is on the market during the holidays, make sure your decorations don't overpower a room. Always remember, less is more.

Daytime Showings

Winter days are often dark and dreary, so try to time the showings of your home for days when the sun is shining. Pull up the blinds, open the shutters, push back the drapes on every window, and turn on lots of lights, including appliance lights and closet lights. You can also brighten dark rooms with few windows by placing spotlights on the floor behind furniture. Evoke a sense of spring and summer by placing vases filled with flowers around the house. You can also display photographs or paintings showcasing flower gardens and lush green lawns.

Call Davis R. Chant Realtors at (570) 493-0741 for all your home buying and selling needs.