Preparing Your Home to Sell in the Winter

Now that the winter is close to winding down, if you were thinking about selling your home you may be thinking about just waiting until the springtime for the best opportunity, but currently the Colorado Springs Real Estate Market has buyers chomping at the bit for quality real estate no matter the season.  The Colorado Springs Area Real Estate Market has not slowed down throughout the winter season and will likely continue to see properties in high demand until the coming of spring in late March.  Low winter inventory can give you home prime exposure on the market and may increase demand for your property.  

So listing your home in winter, especially with the current housing market conditions, will get you more buyers looking and less competition. 

Follow these tips for preparing your home to sell in the winter and the process can be less stressful and give your property a marketing edge.

Staging - Make it Cozy

You want to create a warm and inviting environment for potential buyers to walk into, so begin by turning up the thermostat by a couple degrees.  67 may work for your utility bills but for the few days your home will be on the market bump it up to an inviting 72- 74 degrees.

Accent rooms with cozy throws and pillows to keep that warm and inviting feeling moving throughout the home.

Remove and stash away all your winter gear - coats, boots, hats gloves, etc..- from the entryway and/or mud areas. It’s important to give buyers clean and clear spaces to highlight the home.  Also provide an empty coat rack and space in your entryway for buyers to hang their coats and take off their shoes and feel relaxed in the space.

If you have a fireplace, highlight the area - first make sure it is clean, and stage the area with logs, candles, neatly placed fireplace accessories, and create a cozy seating surrounding the fireplace.

Lighting - Brighten and Lighten for the Shorter Days

The reality of winter is that it gets dark early and most likely potential home buyers will be shopping in evenings after work when the sun is waning, so make sure your home is filled with light.  Make sure that all light bulbs inside and out are not burnt out, and if any area is looking dim replace lighting with higher wattage bulbs. Consider adding extra lighting with lamps where necessary. 

Curb Appeal 

Buyers are not expecting lush lawns and pretty flowers when they are buying in winter, but tidy and maintained are always welcoming signs when house hunting in winter.

Clear out old, dried up vegetation and generally tidy up the front of the property.  

Keep all walkways, paths, and driveways clear of snow and ice before pictures are taken and before showings.  If you have neighbors that are untimely with their snow removal, perhaps take the time to shovel their sidewalks if needed, it looks good and you’re being a good neighbor.

Seasonal Maintenance

Along with clearing snow when necessary other winter maintenance should be completed before listing your home such as furnace maintenance and shoring up any drafts that may exist.  Doing a pre-listing home inspection is recommended to make sure any issues can be addressed before a buyer’s home inspection reveals issues.

Flexibility with Showings

Limiting the times that buyers can view your home will limit the number of buyers viewing your home.  Be open to flexible showing times to get the most showings for your home, buyers do not like to be limited and may skip over your home if they are unable to view it.  You may be inconvenienced in the short term - and in this market it may be a very short period of time- but it will pay off.

Don’t wait to list your home when the “season is right” . The right time is now because inventory is low and lots of buyers are shopping.  Getting your home on the market this winter can pay off.

Colorado Springs Real Estate - EXIT Realty Mountain View, Brandy Brown Employing Broker/Owner - We help home buyers and sellers along Colorado’s Front Range including Colorado Springs, Pueblo West, Woodland Park, Fountain, and Peyton. Please contact EXIT Realty Mountain View at 719.375.3864 to connect with one of the amazing brokers on our team.
“Your dream is our mission.”