Selling Your Home In Winter

There are some challenges to be faced when marketing a home in winter. But challenges can be met, and here's how:

1. Turn on as many lights as possible to chase away "the drearies." The winter sun provides a bit weaker light, and clouds are always a possibility. Even in bright sunlight, a home looks better with more than one source of light. Turn on lamps, and if they aren't harsh, turn on overhead lights, as well, even at high noon.

2. Trim away dead or dormant plants near the entry and in beds near the house. Curb appeal is everyone's first impression - make it a good one!

3.Thin out seasonal clothing. Winter clothes generally take up more room in the closet, as they're heavier and thicker. If need be, thin them out; place clothing you really don't need on a frequent basis in containers which you can store on a shelf or in a nearby store room.

4. Keep the temperature comfortable, but not overly warm. While the winter chill may make people thankful to be in a warm place when first entering the house, it doesn't take long for people wearing winter clothing to be overly warm. Keep the house "comfortably cool" - provide enough heat for people to stay in the house without being chilled, but not so warm that they're hit with a blast of hot air the moment they walk in.

5. Be mindful of odors. A house which is "sealed" for the winter may intensify pet odors, scented candles, etc. Remember that not everyone will love Fido or Felix the cat, and try to eliminate their "scent presence." Also, remember that scented candles, while nice, need to be as neutral as possible in scent, and subtle - some people have allergies to certain odors, and others just find them unpleasant.

6. Think spring and summer! A few photos of the house with the azaleas in full bloom or that crepe myrtle tree when it's flowering never hurt. It reminds people that winter will soon be over, and the house and yard will have a whole different look.

Buyers in mid-winter tend to be more serious. If people are making appointments to view your property in winter, they are generally serious about buying a home. Studies have shown that it takes fewer showings to sell a home in winter, as there are not a bunch of "looky-loos" out just to pass a Sunday afternoon while getting ideas for the home they plan to build; the people looking in winter tend to be ready to buy a house.