Heating up buyers in a chilly real estate market
Tips for selling your house in the slow winter season
Selling your home is no easy task, and it’s even more difficult when you’re trying to do it in the dead of winter. Shorter days, a lack of greenery, and ice and snow are all conspiring against you. With the barrage of recent storms across the country, even traditional snowbird climates don’t look so bright.
The good news: It is still possible to sell your house right now. Most home sellers typically wait until spring to place their house on the market but if you get out there before March 1, there is less inventory and therefore fewer sellers to compete against. Also, people who’ve made life changes for the New Year — marriage, retirement, a new job in another state — and can’t afford to wait too long are motivated buyers.
Still, you need to put your house’s best face forward, which can be harder to do under gray skies and leafless trees. Staging is key, even if you’re still living in your house. Here’s how to make your home shine brighter in the cold light of winter.
Let in the light
Show your house during daylight hours as much as possible — open houses after 5 p.m. will leave potential buyers literally in the dark. Make the most of natural light while you have it by pulling up blinds, opening shutters and pushing back drapes on every window.
Turn on every light in the house, including appliance lights and closet lights. Brighten up dark rooms by placing spotlights on the floor behind furniture. Use timers to turn indoor and outdoor lamps on when dusk hits and buyers are present.
Create a mood
Even if you don’t hire a professional stager, set the scene for a cozy, warm house buyers will want to cuddle up in. “Hang a wreath on the door to make it festive, just make sure it’s not a Christmas-themed one left over from the holidays,” said Nash.
Toss afghans or throws across the sofa and armchair. Place winter flowers around the house and at the front door. Turn your bathroom into a spa by hanging up plush robes, tying washcloths with a ribbon in a basket, and grouping soaps, lotion and shampoo. Set up the dinner table with the good china and silver.
Give your home a nice scent. Many Realtors say the smells of freshly baked chocolate-chip cookies and spiced cider are winter winners, but make sure you actually have munchies there for guests so they’re not disappointed.
But don’t overdo the scents — many people are allergic to certain scents and deodorizers, so avoid air sprays, perfumes and plug-in air fresheners. Nash recommends changing your furnace filter if you’re frequently heating and cooking in the house. Air out odors and mustiness by cracking windows and turning on exhaust fans in the bathroom and kitchen a few hours before show time to draw in fresh air.
Emphasize the outdoors
Draw attention to your yard and garden even if they’re lacking greenery. Hang bird feeders to give buyers a focal point as well and draw colorful birds in. If your summer garden is worth boasting about, we suggest pulling out color photos from last season and placing them on a cardboard poster or photo album to help buyers visualize what the barren tundra looks like in warmer weather.
Turn up the heat
Pump up the thermostat before buyers arrive. It’s better to heat the house a degree or two warmer than usual and then set the temperature at normal just before people enter to give them more of a reason to linger on a cold day.
Take advantage of gas and wood fireplaces to create ambience, but for wood-burning fireplaces, open the damper, put a grate in front and don’t leave it unattended for very long. You don’t want your hopes of a big offer on your house to literally go up in smoke.
For more information about buying, selling or financing Corona Real Estate, Norco Real Estate or Riverside County Real Estate go to http://www.951info.com Elite Properties and Finance.