Though the holidays can be busy, fall and winter are also excellent times of year to list your home. Even in snow or rain, you can still make the most of what your home and the season have to offer.
Don’t Ignore Buyer Motivation
People who are shopping for a home in the fall or winter are not messing around, Frederick Real Estate confirms. Therefore, potential buyers during these seasons are likely more serious than fair-weather shoppers.
Fewer home listings also means yours is one of the few available properties—and center stage is a great place to be if you want buyers to meet your asking price.
Take Advantage of Seasonal Sales
As Quicken Loans reminds homeowners, carpet and flooring stores tend to have holiday and end-of-year specials. That means a home that needs flooring updates could get a makeover, even on a tight holiday budget.
A last-minute cosmetic lift can make the listing more appealing to buyers. You may also find deals on home services that can help with winter curb appeal—like gutter cleaning, landscaping, and snow and ice removal.
Don’t Forget to Play with Light
While summer and spring home listings can rely on sunshine for photoshoots, autumnal listings often lack natural light. And Coldwell Banker confirms that lighting matters when trying to sell your home—so what can you do?
First, make sure to trim trees, shrubs, and anything else blocking natural light from your home's windows. Then, replace light-blocking drapes—swapping for gauzy styles is a helpful switch. Finally, avoid creating shadows with bulky furniture and fixtures and opt for the brightest lighting possible.
Of course, the colder months are ideal for showing off rustic fireplaces and dual-pane windows, so play up those features, too.
Add Ambiance, Naturally
Though you may not be at home a lot to show your property, your agent and potential buyers want to feel comfortable while they look around. That means setting your thermostat to a reasonable setting and making sure the house feels inviting.
Placing cozy throws on the couch can also suggest seasonal warmth. Hinting at apple pies and holiday dinners via mildly scented candles can add ambiance, too. And, scheduling open houses for Sundays—the industry standard—can also mean more eyes on your listing, naturally.
Have Fun with Holiday Decorating
Part of the appeal of buying a home in the fall is being able to settle in before the holidays arrive. Therefore, you can almost bet that staging with holiday decorations will encourage buyers to picture themselves cozying up on Christmas morning.
Slow Down for the Season
It can be stressful to manage a home sale so close to Thanksgiving and Christmas. Holidays already involve stress, thanks to financial issues, family demands, and personal health.
But putting off selling your property will only compound stress. Focus on the positives, like getting out from under the mortgage sooner rather than later. Aim to complete small tasks a day at a time, rather than completing big projects all at once. And trust your realtor to know best—and help with preparations.
Avoid Weather Problems During Open Houses
Open houses can be challenging in rainy or snowy weather. But making the property feel welcoming is one way to combat the cold. Consider shoveling the driveway and sidewalk for accessibility and serving hot cocoa to warm up potential buyers.
How to Take Advantage of Staging in a Snap
Most experts will highlight how crucial home staging is for selling your home quickly. If it's speed you're after, you need simple staging tips that are doable even during the rush of the season. Fortunately, all it takes is a once-over before you head out the door, and you'll be ready for showings all day long.
At a minimum, make sure you get all dirty dishes out of the sink and into the dishwasher. Take out your trash (let the candles do the talking), open the curtains as wide as they'll go, and leave a few lights on.
Prepping to sell your house during fall or winter requires a unique approach, but it's not impossible. Then, in the new year, you can enjoy a new home and far less stress.
