Tips for selling a home in winter

When you’re selling a home in the winter, fewer buyers are in the market and homes do not show as well when the grass is brown and the trees are bare. Luckily, there are things you can do to increase your chances of making a sale.

Curb appeal.

Let’s start outdoors. Curb appeal is an important element of selling a home. Many buyers won’t even go inside homes that don’t look great from the street. You won’t have flowers blooming in winter, but that doesn’t mean the yard and landscaping can’t have the necessary appeal for selling a home.

Make sure the yard is raked and the grass is evenly mowed. Remove acorns, pinecones and sweet gum balls. Clear the gutters. Bare spots become even more obvious in winter, so do what you can to camouflage them. Lay mulch down around shrubbery and in flower beds, and consider a bird bath or some other outdoor feature to add charm. A chimenea or any portable outdoor fire pit can bring warmth to a patio or deck. Leave the furniture out when you’re selling your home rather than bringing it indoors for the winter.

And, of course, it is important that the exterior of your house be in the best shape possible. Faded or peeling paint or warped siding is even more obvious in the winter, so take care of that before listing your house.

A warm interior.

When you’re selling a home in winter, your indoor challenge is to keep the space warm and inviting. One simple thing to do is make sure the furnace or central heat is set high enough before showings that the house is warm and comfortable. Fireplaces can help sell your home, so light them for showings to highlight this romantic showpiece. Keep them clean when they’re not in use.

Another nice touch is to drape a warm throw over the couch, bringing to mind cozy evenings curled up with a book. And don’t forget the old favorites of baking cookies before showings or simmering cinnamon and other winter spices on the stove. Those comforting smells will exude warmth and help your home feel cozy.

Bring in the light, and some green.

Light is especially important during the short, dreary days of winter. So, when you’re selling a home during the cold season, make sure you take full advantage of natural light. One advantage of bare trees is that your home gets more light on sunny days, so make that work for you. Turn all the lights on before a showing to further brighten the space.

Nice green, leafy plants can also warm up the interior of your house. Fresh flowers add color and remind buyers of the promise of spring. And you might want to bring the outdoors in: Many homes have better views in the winter, when the trees are bare of leaves. Make sure windows are clean, sparkling and free of heavy drapery that would obscure the views.

One positive thing to keep in mind is that you have less competition when you’re selling a home in the winter. Emphasizing the warmth and coziness of your house can be just what it takes to make your home “the one” for the cold-weather buyer.