When it comes to selling a home, there is a common understanding that winter isn’t the ideal time to go to market. Think cold days, dark afternoons, rainy weather and lacklustre looking gardens.
However, it’s important to remember that people look for property to buy at all times of the year. With this in mind, there are even benefits to selling a house in winter. In this blog post, we share 10 tips for selling your home in winter with a hot price, no matter the cold weather.
How the seasons can positively and negatively impact the process of selling your home
There are a lot of different factors that go into selling a home. In fact, the home’s appearance and its ability to meet seasonal demands go hand in hand. For example, when the sun is shining in spring, the gardens are in immaculate condition and the home feels warm.
In winter, the sun is hiding behind the clouds, casting a dark, dreary glow and cold feeling throughout the home. Meanwhile the garden is reduced to a muddy mess due to periods of high rainfall.
This appearance and general feeling of dreariness make it exponentially harder to sell a home. However, it’s important to remember that buyers looking for homes during winter are extremely motivated. They will brave the conditions if your home is worth seeing.
10 tips for putting a house on the market in winter
Preparing your home for sale takes a lot of work. This is true whether selling in summer, autumn, winter or spring. However, when choosing to sell in winter, there are some added tasks that homeowners should complete.
By making sure that your home shines no matter the outdoor conditions, you can create an aesthetic that is inviting and therefore appealing to buyers. Combine this with a few selling strategies and you can effectively sell your home even in the depths of winter.
1. Make sure it is ready for warm living
Selling your home in winter requires a bit more effort to make it cozy and inviting for potential buyers. During the colder months, a warm, welcoming atmosphere can make all the difference. Start by ensuring your heating system is in tip-top condition. Have a professional inspect and service your furnace or heating system to avoid any mishaps during showings.
Next, focus on the tactile comforts: soft throw blankets, plush cushions, and warm lighting can transform the feel of your space instantly. Consider setting your aircon to a comfortable temperature before showings.
2. Keep your home clean
Maintaining a spotless home is crucial when selling, especially during the winter months when mud and debris can easily be tracked inside. Start with a deep clean of your entire house, paying close attention to the details that might be overlooked during daily routines. This includes cleaning windows, dusting off blinds, and ensuring that all surfaces sparkle.
3. Make the most of the outdoors
Even in the chill of winter, your home’s exterior and outdoor spaces are key selling points, so it's essential to present them in their best light. Don’t overlook the little details that can enhance curb appeal. Use seasonal decor tastefully: think simple string lights or a wreath on the door. Keep the back and front yard tidy, with trimmed bushes and clean gutters, to show that your home is well-maintained in every season.
4. Brighten the space
Winter days can be short and dreary, so bringing as much light into your home as possible is crucial for making it feel cheerful and inviting. Start with maximizing natural light: keep your windows clean and open up all blinds or curtains during the day to let in as much sunlight as possible.
To enhance the interior lighting, replace any dim bulbs with high-wattage, warm-colored bulbs to add a cozy yet bright feel to rooms. Consider adding additional light sources like floor lamps or table lamps in darker corners to create a more welcoming environment.
5. Pay attention to your windows
It’s important to show potential buyers how your home can withstand winter conditions. By keeping windows clean and tidy, you not only brighten up the space but offer an enticing glimpse into your home.
By making sure that windows are clean and blemish free, you are allowing more warmth and light into the home, two factors that potential buyers will definitely notice. Additionally, clean windows add to curb appeal.
When driving up to a property, the ability to see lights aglow within the house is essentially enticing the buyers to come inside. This helps to create an instant connection with buyers, something that is key to sealing the deal.
6. Check your timing
Timing is everything when it comes to selling your home, especially in the winter. While it's traditionally considered off-peak in the real estate market, there are unique advantages to selling during this season. Fewer homes on the market mean less competition, and the buyers who are out there tend to be more serious about making a purchase.
To make the most of selling your home in winter, keep an eye on local market trends and consult with an LJ Hooker real estate agent who understands the seasonal dynamics. They can provide insights on when buyers in your area are most active and how to best position your home for a quick sale.
7. Show off your home’s strengths
Highlighting the unique features of your home is crucial in making it stand out to potential buyers, especially during the less busy winter months. Take the time to identify what makes your home special, be it a cozy fireplace, energy-efficient windows, or a recently renovated kitchen, and ensure these features are front and center during showings.
For instance, if you have a fireplace, make it the focal point of your living area during showings. Have a fire lit, if possible, to create a warm and inviting atmosphere that buyers can envision themselves enjoying. Similarly, if your home is equipped with energy-efficient features, provide documentation or display this information prominently, as it can be a major selling point regarding long-term cost savings and comfort.
8. Offer flexible showings
Winter days offer limited hours of daylight. Therefore in order to make the most of the conditions, it’s important to offer flexible showings. This could mean that during the week you have open houses starting at midday in addition to open houses scheduled on the weekend.
By being flexible with showing times you are accommodating a wide range of sellers. Multiple opens means that people who work, attend activities or have children can find a time that suits them to attend your open house.
While accommodating a buyer’s schedule, this flexibility has benefits for the seller. Namely, by opening your house up to more potential buyers, you can increase the chance of a successful sale.
9. Utilise virtual tours
One of the barriers to selling a home in the winter is the associated weather conditions. Oftentimes the winter season is complete with wind, rain and cold air. All of which work together to put potential buyers off attending open houses.
By offering virtual tours you can overcome common barriers to selling in winter. There are even added benefits to consider. Firstly, a potential buyer who watches the virtual tour and wants to arrange an in-person inspection is more than likely a serious proposition.
Secondly, the ability to offer virtual tours broadens the pool of buyers for your home. Some people might not be interested in viewing your home because of locational issues so view the tour instead. By increasing the market for your home, the chances of selling also increase.
10. Collaborate with a local real estate agent
A great tip for selling a home during winter is to collaborate with a local real estate agent. Someone with experience will be able to properly guide you through preparing your home for sale and eventually selling.
This experience helps you identify the challenges and advantages associated with selling in winter. Thanks to this inherent market knowledge, you can make sure that you are not only presenting your home in the best way possible but also employing great selling strategies.
Selling your home in winter
Selling your home can often feel overwhelming, especially when contending with winter conditions ranging from cold days and dark afternoons to rainy conditions and high winds. However, there are simple tricks and tips that you can employ to make your home standout and your selling strategy more effective.
Following our 10 tips for selling your home in the winter should help you maximise your final sale price. However, don't hesitate to get in touch with your local LJ Hooker real estate agent or book a free property appraisal to know more about how to make your property stand out from the crowd and make yourself a fantastic sale.
DISCLAIMER - The information provided is for guidance and informational purposes only and does not replace independent business, legal and financial advice which we strongly recommend. Whilst the information is considered true and correct at the date of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact the accuracy of the information provided. LJ Hooker will not accept responsibility or liability for any reliance on the blog information, including but not limited to, the accuracy, currency or completeness of any information or links.
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