The winter months provide their own unique challenges to the homeowner wishing to sell. There are fewer buyers in the marketplace, the weather doesn’t always cooperate, and the dormant grass and leafless trees can affect a home’s curb appeal. However, these challenges are not at all insurmountable — in fact, winter also provides some advantages to sellers, such as less competition and more committed buyers. There is no reason why you can’t sell your home in a timely manner this season, and for a fair price. You simply need to take the season into account while forming your marketing strategy. If you’re thinking about selling your home during the winter, the following tips should help.
Maximize Curb Appeal
In the winter months, you can’t rely on your landscaping for curb appeal, but you can still make the home look welcoming and inviting from the outside. Keep leaves and debris off the lawn, driveway and walkways. Remove any clutter from the porch. Spruce up the doorway with sparse, tasteful seasonal decorations. In the rare instances when we have ice or snow in Georgia, clear a safe path for visitors. A clean, uncluttered exterior sends a welcoming message that this home is a haven from the winter elements.
Fresh Paint
One advantage to living in the South is that you can generally repaint all year long — even the exterior — provided you use paint that is rated for temperatures of 35 degrees Fahrenheit and above. Feel free to touch up places where the paint shows signs of wear, apply attractive accents, or even consider a full repaint. If you do, lean toward warm and brighter colors that reflect the light.
Let In as Much Light as Possible
Speaking of light, the shorter winter days and weaker sunlight tend to have a psychological effect on us. You can offset that effect by letting in as much natural light as possible, as well as using tasteful lighting for darker corners of the house. Make sure your windows are clean and sparkling to avoid diffusing the light; open drapes and shades fully. Schedule showings during the day as much as possible.
Keep It Warm (but Not Stuffy)
On cooler days, especially, don’t be sparing with the heat. Potential buyers should feel a warm comfort when they walk through the door — another signal that this home is a safe place from the winter elements. Don’t overdo it, though — leaving the heat on during milder temperatures can make the place feel closed in. Apply enough heat to make it cozy but not stuffy.
Price Your Home Correctly
While property values in general aren’t affected much by the seasons, sale prices do tend to drop slightly in winter. This doesn’t mean sellers have to entertain low-ball offers, but it does mean there is less wiggle room in getting the price right. Buyers and their agents know fair market values, and if you overprice in the winter months they will be less forgiving. You can still get a decent price — just do your homework with your agent and get the listing price right the first time.
With careful planning and strategic staging, you can certainly sell your home during the winter with as much success as if you listed in the summer. Ready to discuss listing your home? Call Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty today at 404.948.4812.