When it’s time to think about selling your home, most Agents will tell you to put it on the market in spring or summer. While those seasons can help you find a buyer a little more quickly in some parts of the country, it is still possible to sell your home during the colder months; in fact, this is the time when only serious buyers are looking, so you know you won’t be wasting any time. The key is to stage the house well and to make sure the exterior is in great shape. Adding curb appeal can go a long way toward boosting your home’s value and attracting a buyer in a short amount of time. It’s also important to make sure you don’t go overboard with decorating, although adding some holiday appeal to the house can work in your favor.
Here are a few tips for selling your home during the colder months.
Find the right movers
Moving during the fall or winter can be tricky, especially if the exterior of your home has a lot of stairs or paths which can become treacherous when the weather gets nasty. Not only can it be dangerous, but it can also be difficult to keep your belongings safe and dry in the unpredictable outdoors. Finding the right moving company is imperative, as they should be able to work within your timeline and keep your furniture and other items in good shape no matter what’s going on outside. Some movers will even help you pack! Compare prices online and make sure you can find a company that’s right for your needs and budget well ahead of your move.
Stage it right
There are plenty of tips online for staging a home that involve quite an investment on the seller’s part, but you don’t have to spend a lot of money to make your home look appealing. Think about adding some curb appeal by trimming back shrubs — especially if the cold weather has stripped them of their greenery — and adding some mulch over any bare spots on the ground. Keep in mind that the colder months don’t have as much light as the warmer ones, so adding as much illumination to the interior of the home as possible is always a good thing.
Decorate with a light hand
Decorating your home for the holidays is always fun, but when it’s going on the market, it’s a good idea to take it easy with the seasonal decor. Ideally, a home for sale will be as depersonalized as possible, but during this time of year, it can actually work in your favor to make your home cozy. Think simple to avoid clutter, and use seasonal touches to make the house smell amazing for your potential buyers, especially if you’re going to plan an open house.
Keep it clean
It can be tricky to keep things clean during the colder months, especially if your town has had some bad weather; floors get wet and messy, sidewalks get slippery, gutters become full of debris or icicles. Trees lose leaves and branches and the lawn becomes a veritable mud pit after hard rains. Go around the exterior of your home and clean things up, and keep it maintained the entire time your home is on the market. If possible, create a small area in your foyer or mudroom to keep shoes and boots nice and dry and to encourage everyone to take off their footwear.
Selling your home during the colder months doesn’t have to be a costly challenge. By utilizing the resources at your disposal — such as online tutorials on how to properly stage the home — you can get it ready for sale without laying out a ton of money, and without all the stress that can come with putting a house on the market.
Written by: Suzie Wilson with HappierHome.net