How would it feel to receive timely, over-asking-price offers after you place your home on the market? Putting in extra effort ahead of time is one way to achieve that goal. It’s hard to imagine wanting to do anything but cuddle up under a blanket during this season, and winter presents unique challenges to placing your home on the market. But putting the following tips to use will give prospective buyers a great first impression!
- The first step to placing your home on the market during the winter is to keep snow and ice removal under control. Make sure potential buyers have a clear walkway and that any ice patches have been adequately salted. Nothing leaves a worse first impression than a buyer slipping on their way up to your home.
- Have a designated spot for everyone to place outerwear such as heavy coats, boots, hats, and gloves. You can provide disposable booties for anyone touring your home to wear to prevent snow or rain from getting tracked all over.
- Keep the thermostat at a comfortable level that is warm and inviting. You don’t want to give buyers the impression that your home is cold and drafty. Winter is also the perfect time to show off the beauty of your fireplace to potential buyers if you have one.
- Even in the winter you can boost your curb appeal. Clear out all of the leaves from your gutters that have accumulated from the fall and winter seasons, and make sure there is no debris in your yard, such as leaves or fallen branches. Illuminate your home with a warm glow by using a soft yellow bulb in outdoor lighting to give your home a warm appearance. Jazz up your front door with some fresh paint adding a pop of color.
- Before putting your home to market is the time for a deep, deep clean. This means baseboards, appliances, light fixtures, switch plates, vents, fan blades, windowsills, drawers, cabinets, fireplace – nothing is off-limits. Potential buyers will examine your home and its contents with a fine-tooth comb. A spotless home will send the message that this is a well-maintained property. Hiring a cleaning crew for a one-time deep clean is a wise investment as it can add to your resale value.
- Getting rid of clutter and unwanted items can free up your home, making it feel bright and roomy. Bring in natural light by making sure light coming in from your windows is not blocked by furniture or other stacked objects. Also, clean windows will allow for more natural light to shine through.
- You can keep winter germs at bay by only allowing one buyer group to tour the home at a time. You can also limit home tours to serious buyers only. Disinfect your home after each showing, especially commonly touched areas like doorknobs and faucet handles. Have everyone use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer immediately upon entry.
Did you know you can simply and safely store your extra stuff with Zippy Shell while your home is on the market? We’ll deliver a portable storage container directly to your door then store it in our secure climate-controlled facility. We’ll deliver storage to your new home whenever you are ready. It’s that simple!