PRO TIPS:
Selling in Fall /Winter Although Fall and Winter don’t usually record a frenzy of home sales, there are still buying and selling occurring (and with our low inventory there are buyers still waiting for the right home to come on the market). Here are some helpful tips for selling during Fall/ Winter:
Peak Season Photos
Show buyers what it looks like during the spring and summer. Take some amazing summer yard pictures, and have them included in the listing photos...or do up a small photo album highlighting the yard during the peak growing season.
Daylight Virtual Tour
Consider using a Realtor that offers a 3-D tour which shows the home in daylight. This allows the buyers who work during the day and have to view homes in the evening an opportunity to view the home in good light.
Outdoor Maintenance
- Leaf and snow covered sidewalks are not welcoming, and can make the home look uncared for. Use a leaf blower or broom to keep leaves and outdoor dirt off of the walkways. Completely clear snow from all walking paths and decks. - Give your home’s siding one last rinse before things get too cold. - Consider placement of landscaping lighting, solar lights, motion-activated spotlights to show off your home/yard, even into the late afternoon and evening. - Be proactive in checking your window seals and doors for drafts. Weather seal and insulate as needed. - Lot lines are not as visible when covered with snow and leaves, so it’s difficult to get a sense of the outdoor space unless it’s clearly defined. Define property boundaries with brightly-colored flags tied to stakes, and place them at the four corners of your property.
Indoor Maintenance
- Open all the blinds and open curtains so there is minimal window coverage, allowing daylight to flow into your home. Also, be sure your windows are clean, removing the screens for winter since this will allow more light to pour in. - Lightbulbs can greatly enhance the home. A bathroom looks great with daylight bulbs, while bedrooms and living rooms usually look best with soft white bulbs. If you’re upgrading bulbs, consider going all LED and let the buyers know you will be leaving the bulbs for them. - Definitely have your furnace (or boiler) maintained prior to putting your home on the market, and be sure all filters are replaced. These small steps make a huge difference when it comes to inspections later on. - If you have a natural gas fireplace, leave it on for ambience or leave the remote with a note for buyers to turn it on. - Resist the urge to add too many scents to your home – it’ll smell like you’re hiding something. A non-toxic option is to boil some cinnamon sticks and cloves in some water just before the showing - the smell will linger and is very homey. You can boil just about any foods that have a pleasing aroma, such as apples, berries, orange peels, vanilla and mint leaves).
Seasonal Decor
Be sensitive to seasonal decor in both listing photos and in real life showings. Simplicity is appealing - opt for simple, modest decor so that buyers can still see the home around the decor. Something as simple as a snowman in the front yard goes a long way to making a home feel cozy.
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Photo courtesy of Brian Patrick Flynn, FlynnsideOut
DEB COOK 306.621.6495
