Now that the weather’s getting colder, anyone who’s selling a house should start preparing for the winter market. While houses tend to be harder to sell when snow is on the ground, you can still find a buyer – as long as you keep your curb appeal high. Here are some steps you can take to ensure that your real estate investment looks like a winter wonderland.
1) Keep your paths clear. Much like stray leaves in the fall, rogue snow will taint the aesthetics of your driveway and sidewalk. Not only are clean paths safer, they’re very appealing to winter buyers. While kids tend to make the cheapest snow blowers, if you’re selling your house this season it might a good idea to invest in a mechanical one. For a few hundred dollars, you can make clearing your paths a quick and easy daily routine.
2) Get festive. More than anything, the winter is a time for holidays, and if you don’t want to look like the only Grinch on your block then you’d better hang up some lights. Tasteful lighting and lawn ornaments will go a long way in helping potential buyers envision your home as their own. If you’re careful about where you place your decorations, you can even use them to highlight your home’s strengths and hide its weaknesses.
3) Light a fire. Nothing makes your home seem cozier than the smell and sound of a warm, crackling fire. Studies show that the smell and warmth of the hearth triggers our nesting instinct, so you should keep a fire going as often as possible to woo flighty buyers inside for a look around.
4) Clean off your deck. The chances of anyone actually using their decks in the wintertime are slim-to-none, but that doesn’t mean you should just let yours gather snow. A clean deck is another trick you can use to make your home seem bigger and more appealing. On top of that, on those occasions when you just really need a good steak, you’ll be able to grill in the winter.
Keeping your curb appeal high is a must for anyone selling a house in the winter. If you shovel regularly and keep your house looking festive, you can make your real estate investment the prettiest place in the entire neighborhood. That will go a long way toward finding you a buyer.
