How to Prepare Your Home For a Winter Sale

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If you’re thinking of selling your home in winter, you can enjoy a few advantages. For example, there’s less competition in winter because most sellers opt to put their homes on the market during spring instead. This means that there are fewer houses on the market, driving up demand amongst buyers. You can also take advantage of the winter chill to make your home stand out as extra warm and cosy!

Here’s a few tips to help you make your home look particularly appealing during this season:

Use Winter Staging Tricks

Home staging in winter will need to be conducted with the ultimate goal of creating an atmosphere of comfort and warmth. A roaring fire can be a great asset in the winter, so you’ll want to use your fireplace (if you have one) during an inspection. Textured throws and blankets can be used on couches and in the bedroom to create a cosy feeling, making buyers want to snuggle up in your home. Consider adding a rug which can be great for creating zones within an open-plan space.

Most winter days tend to be overcast, and with clean windows you’ll ensure that any sunlight that appears is able to stream freely into the home. Another reason to keep your windows clean is to avoid muddy streaks due to winter rain showers or condensation from the cold. This could dampen what would otherwise be a top feature of the home.

Use Lighting to your Advantage

In addition to cleaning your windows and pulling back curtains, you’ll also want to make the most of artificial light. Turn on all of your lamps and lighting fixtures (always use warm light globes) to banish dark corners from the home and give the place a cosy glow. Another way to brighten up your home is by using mirrors. Place these across from windows, to open up the space and show off your cleaning and staging to its best effect.

Keep the Heating On

There’s nothing like stepping in from the cold into a warm, comfortable home. The warmth will help put buyers at ease, and will help erase any doubts about whether or not the heating system works. However, take care not to turn it up too high. You want a warm and cosy home, not a sauna.

Brighten your Curb Appeal

When it comes to selling your house, you’ll make your first impression based on the exterior of the property. You can freshen up your property by putting out potted winter flowers to breathe life into the garden. Raking leaves, mowing the lawn, and pruning bushes that may contain old flowers will help your home look more vibrant.

Take Care of Home Repairs

No matter what time of year you plan on selling your house in, you’ll want to prepare for the sale by having a property that’s in proper working order. Fix issues like leaking roof tiles or gutters, to prevent water running down the walls of your property during inspection. Leaky faucets or chipped fixtures should also be replaced. I can provide you with a comprehensive list of local tradespeople to help with any repairs.

Protect Interior of the Home

Wet weather can do a number on your property’s interior as well. Provide an umbrella stand, coat rack, and welcome mat outside the door to prevent drips and mud being tracked in onto the carpet. Alternatively, we can have a polite sign asking buyers to remove their shoes when they enter the home, to protect carpets. This shows buyers that you care about protecting your property and also draws attention to your flooring, which is helpful if you’ve just installed new carpeting or floorboards.

I have a great deal of experience with selling properties in any season, and may have some additional tips that pertain to your specific situation. Feel free to contact me to discuss how to best present your home for a winter sale and also discuss whether timing around this part of the year is suitable for your circumstances. I hope this helps!

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Michael Dowling
McGrath Estate Agents
0418 637 593
michaeldowling@mcgrath.com.au