Selling in Winter? Make Your Home the Hottest on the Market

Believe it or not, winter is the best season in which to sell your home. National Association of Realtors statistics show that, although fewer homes sell in winter than in spring (what most folks think of as the traditional home-selling season), those that are for sale bring in more money and sell quicker than spring-marketed homes.

Interestingly, NAR’s statistics hold true regardless of market, in regions with warm, sunny winters and those that get the arctic blast.

Here are some tips to set the stage for winter appeal:

• Don't let the snow discourage you from showing off the exterior features of the home. Shovel the deck, clean the grill and leave the hot tub running and open during showings. Let buyers imagine sinking into the steamy hot water or plopping burgers on the grill.

• Take photos of the home in spring or summer and display them on the kitchen counter. This way, buyers will know what type of plants they can look forward to when it's not snowing.

• Keep the home well-lit to counteract the gloom outside. Clean the windows to allow more natural light into the home.

• Control the heat level in the home. The warmer it is inside, compared to the chilly outdoors, the longer buyers will want to remain in the home.

• Start a fire in the fireplace before showings.

• Homes are typically buckled up tight in the winter, trapping odors. Consider purchasing a scented furnace filter or using scented candles throughout the home. Keep the scent subtle, not overpowering.

• Clear the walkways, driveway, and front and back porches of ice and snow, and keep them salted.

• Keep holiday decorating generic and to a minimum. The last thing you want to do is offend a potential buyer with overly religious decorations. But go ahead and hang a wreath on the front door, deck the halls with garland and put those twinkling lights up on the exterior of the home.

While selling your home in winter may seem more challenging, it doesn’t have to be. Make your home feel like a sanctuary from the elements with a warm, cozy, and inviting atmosphere, and watch the offers roll in!