How to Sell Your Home This Winter
Friday, January 19, 2007
How to Sell Your Home This Winter - or, at least give your home a chance to sell. Winter is usually an off-season for real estate sales and this winter a particulary bad time to try to sell with a depressed housing market.
According to Bankrate.com, winter can be difficult when showing a house because the days are shorter, greenery is in short supply, and weather can really be an issue.
Here are some of tips to help you sell your home over the next few months:
"There are good reasons for selling in the winter -- namely, less competition. But you still have to work hard to attract the best customers. It's all about staging:
According to Bankrate.com, winter can be difficult when showing a house because the days are shorter, greenery is in short supply, and weather can really be an issue.
Here are some of tips to help you sell your home over the next few months:
"There are good reasons for selling in the winter -- namely, less competition. But you still have to work hard to attract the best customers. It's all about staging:
- Keep walkways and driveways clear of snow and ice. You may not have to mow the lawn or trim the shrubs, but in the winter, consider this duty your 'yard work.'
- Present a warm and cozy home. Make sure the temperature is comfortable and not too cool for visitors coming in from the outside. Turn on gas fireplaces if you have them.
- Show during 'high-daylight' hours and make your home as light as possible. Clean blinds and curtains and keep them open during daytime showings. Put the highest wattage bulbs in amps and fixtures, and turn the lights on when you show. And wash your windows -- even a little bit of grime gives the impression that the home isn't well cared for.
- Set the mood with a little soft background music and some pleasant smells. Light a few candles that give off a nice scent, such as vanilla. Just don't overdo it -- you don't want people to think you're trying to mask a bad smell.
- Ask prospective buyers to remove their shoes or slip on paper booties over them. Doing so shows buyers that you are proud of your home and take meticulous care of it.
- Emphasize the features of your home that make it a good place to live in the winter. If your roads are regularly plowed and de-iced, be sure to make it known."
Something else to keep in mind. It's a good idea to wait to show your house until AFTER the Super Bowl. Why? Well, it can be pretty difficult to get men up off the couch on the weekends to go look at a house - until all the football games are done for the season. Naturally.
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Housing Bubble HumorHere's a tip - if you need to find a contractor to update any part of your home, you can avoid flipping through the yellow pages to pick a contractor at random - you can post your project on Construction Deal and we'll have contractors call you. Saves you time. And, with multiple bids, you'll also save money. Even if you don't use Construction Deal to find a contractor fast - get as many bids on a job as you can and go with the company that is the right fit for you!
Labels: Curb Appeal, Housing Bubble, Improving Home Value, Real Estate
