If you are selling your house this winter, there are certain things you must keep in mind that are not necessarily important during other times of the year. Here are some key tips (from various RE/MAX Agents!) to help get your home SOLD in the snowy months:
1. Let Those Lights Shine: Winter is usually filled with gloomy days and overcast skies. Compensate by turning on your house lights. When you have a showing, every light must be on! This means closet lights and utility/mechanical room lights too. Keep new light bulbs handy so you can replace burned out bulbs immediately. Even if no showings have been scheduled, keep your front porch/outside lights on to keep your home looking happy and welcoming to people driving by.
2. Provide Convenient Parking: Buyers don't want to walk very far in the cold, or climb over a snow bank when they get out of the car. Make sure your agent can pass on instructions on the best place to park, and if you have a driveway, keep it clear of snow at all times.
3. Make it Easy to Enter: This will benefit you AND potential buyers. Winter showings can get off to an awkward start when buyers come in with snow or salt all over their shoes, and I'm sure you don't want snow tracked all over your home! Make it easier for buyers to deal with by putting a welcoming rug at the front door so visitors can wipe their feet. If there is room, place a bench or chair near the front door where visitors can easily sit and remove their boots. Another option is to provide disposable booties they can slip over their shoes.
4. Keep Odors Under Control: During the winter months, windows are rarely opened, and homes tend to be more stuffy than usual. This can cause odors to build up, turning-off potential buyers. Use a room fragrance, if needed (nothing too strong), or consider using an air purifier. If you have pets, it is a good idea to clean more often in the winter. Cat litter, for example, should be cleaned daily instead of every third or fourth day.
5. Cultivate a Festive Look: It is ok to decorate for Christmas and even St. Valentine's Day to give your home a cheerful holiday look (just don't go overboard). Keeping small white lights on trees and bushes throughout the winter is fine, although decorations should be taken down quickly once the holiday passes.
6. Don't Ignore the Outdoors: Just because there are no flowers blooming and grass to mow, it is still important to make a good first impression with a neatly maintained yard. Keep your walks and steps clear of snow and ice!
7. Look After Condo Common Areas: If you are selling a condominium, you should have an easier job as the seller if your condo association is doing it's job. If they get behind on clearing the pathways, however, consider buying some de-icing salt and sprinkling it around the building entry and surrounding sidewalks.
8. Don't Roast Buyers: Although you may keep your home a slightly higher temperature during the winter, remember that buyers are likely wearing their coats even as they walk through your house. Keep the air at a comfortable 65 for showings.
9. Keep Seasonal Clothing Under Control: If your family is used to throwing their hats, gloves, and scarves on a bench or even the floor as they come in from the cold, consider storing them in a container, like a decorative chest, near the front door or in a mud room. If your front hall closet is over-stuffed with winter coats, shift some of them to another closet, and store anything not needed.
10. Encourage Day Time Showings: Homes show best during the daylight hours. Since these are scarce in the winter, encourage your agent to show the home before 3 pm, and have your house ready to show by 9 am.
Although showing and marketing a home during the winter months can be challenging, there are also benefits. As a group, buyers who are out viewing homes in December through February are quite serious about buying. Therefore, each showing is more productive and fewer showings are needed to get your home sold!
Good luck and happy selling!
Source: http://rismedia.com/
For more information, visit http://www.indyscenerealestateteam.com/
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