Seasonal Advice On Selling Your Home

There are many advantages to selling a home in the colder months. Housing inventory is always lower in the winter as many potential sellers take their home off the market to wait until spring. This means that there are fewer listings and much less competition. Decorating a house for the holidays also takes care of the need to improve curb appeal and any home staging.

Here are some tips from real estate experts to entice buyers to come out in the cold.

Make Everything Sparkle — Give your house a thorough cleaning before you open it up to potential buyers. Wipe footprints from snowy or muddy shoes, clean the carpets, dust all surfaces, and remove any moisture or debris that comes in with the wind. As with any time of year, a clean and clutter-free house will sell more easily (and maybe at a higher price) than one with more visible clutter.

Light It Up — Use lighting to brighten your home’s interior and exterior. Pull up the blinds, open the shutters, push back the drapes on every window. Turn on every light in the house, including appliance lights and closet lights. This will exude a warm glow throughout your house and make your home feel cozy and bright.

Clear a Path — The appearance of your home’s exterior is just as important as the interior when it comes to selling. To prepare your exterior for the winter weather, shovel snow off the driveway and walkway, deal with any patches of ice that could cause injury and trim trees and shrubs.

Turn Up the Heat — Buyers are coming in from the cold, so make sure they are warm as they walk through your home. Turn the heater up or start a welcoming fire in the living room if you have a fireplace. And, if your HVAC is in need of repairs, hire a heating contractor to ensure that things are working properly.

Trust the Professionals — Speak to a real estate professional who knows how to market and sell your home in winter months. Get every advantage you can, use a REALTOR®.

The Long Island Board of REALTORS®, Inc. (LIBOR) is a not-for-profit trade association representing 27,000 Real Estate professionals working throughout Nassau, Suffolk and Queens Counties. Charlotte Van der Waag is currently serving as the 2018 LIBOR President.