Impress buyers by making sure they feel safe viewing your house. Ensure snow and ice are clear from driveways, walkways, decks and stairs. Making sure your drainage system works well is a must.
Homes can feel darker than usual when daylight is limited. Maintaining a well lit exterior and walkway adds warmth and safety for buyers while offering a sense of security both inside and out.
Use the holidays to your advantage. Add special touches like turning on the fireplace, fresh baking and soft holiday music for a warm and inviting atmosphere. Buyers linger longer when they feel cozy.
Use simple, tasteful holiday decor. Avoid too much clutter or anything overly personal. Remember not to let your decorations hide the main selling features of the house. Keeping the home clean and minimal will help buyers imagine their own belongings.
Keep holiday gifts and valuables hidden away during showings. Secure phones, laptops, prescription medicines & sensitive documents in a locked drawer of safe. Prepare a “showing tote” for easy cleanup of your daily items.
Deep clean before leaving. Hire someone to check the home regularly and maintain snow removal. Keep the home at a comfortable temperature for showings. Avoid posting travel plans until after you return and use timers or smart plugs if the home will be empty for extended periods. Stay reachable while away.
Frequent showings can be messy. Have shoes, boot trays and mats ready to help keep the inside clean, especially for wood floors. Removing exterior snow reduces what ends up inside. Keep extra towels handy to wipe up unexpected puddles
Winter weather can affect items such as dirty furnace filters, worn out weatherstripping, sticking doors, clogged gutters, frost build up on windows, ice buildup on roof edges, etc. If selling fast is your goal, then fixing these problems should be included in your to-do list.
Be flexible with showing times. There may not be as many people hunting for a house but there’s also fewer listings making it easier for you to stand out. Buyers shopping during the holidays are often serious and motivated.
Treat showings as a chance to get out and enjoy the season like Christmas shops and light displays, etc. But make sure to block off family time, dinners or events in advance so you’re not interrupted. A good balance will help keep the season festive and stress-free so you can enjoy the holidays even when your home is for sale!
