What You Need to Know About Selling Your Home in the Winter

There is a common misperception that wintertime is not an ideal time to sell a home, however that simply is not the case. The wintertime tends to see less inventory on the market overall, so chances are if you're willing to sell your home in the winter you'll have great luck. So how do you best attract serious home buyers and sell your home in the winter?

1. FOCUS ON YOUR HOME'S BEST FEATURES

Use the weather to your advantage and highlight your cozy winter home features, like a gorgeous stone fireplace or nice family room. Throw pillows and blankets are easy items that will add charm and personality to your home!

2. CHECK FOR ANY MAJOR ISSUES

Ensure you take care of any big items that buyers would immediately notice in the winter, such as a furnace that’s not working properly or windows that let in a large draft. You can easily fix drafty windows with caulk and we suggest having your furnace inspected prior to selling.

3. LIGHT UP YOUR HOME

The sun sets early in the winter time, meaning that many showings will often take place in the dark. Make sure your front porch is properly lit and install solar lights along the walkways if they are especially dark. This will not only help buyers to find their way to your front door but it will also create more of a wow factor. When evening showings occur, make sure you turn on all of your lights inside as well so your home looks light, bright and inviting!

4. SHOVEL A CLEAR PATHWAY TO THE DOOR

First impressions are extremely important! You don’t want a potential buyer slipping on a patch of ice or sinking down into a foot of snow before they even reach the front door! Spend extra time before each showing ensuring you create a clear and distinct pathway.

5. USE THE HOLIDAYS TO HIGHLIGHT CURB APPEAL

One of the keys to getting your home sold is getting potential buyers to connect emotionally with the home. The holiday time ambiance can help sell the story behind your home and help buyers see themselves in it! Pieces like seasonal wreaths can add pops of color to your front door! But don’t go overboard on the holiday decorations, the key is to make your home feel cozy and inviting, but not have too many decorations that the buyers can’t see past them.

6. OPTIMIZE YOUR ONLINE PRESENCE

53% of buyers find the homes they purchase online. Fortunately, that means that any winter weather won’t keep them away from seeing your home! Between professional photos, special 3D home tours, and customized listing descriptions, our listing package provides significantly more exposure to your home and will bring in the perfect buyer, no matter the season!

In the past several months the number of properties sold surpassed the number of new listings, meaning that there is a severe lack of inventory for home buyers and plenty of buyers still out there looking! Home prices are also 19% higher in the past few months than they were in May of 2020. However, we can’t know for certain that prices will stay this high. The key is to take advantage of what the market is currently doing and maximize your net profit!

If you're considering selling or would like to buy yourself a new home for the new year, get in touch with us! Call 802.488.3487 or email us to find out how our team can help!