by Heather W

This Real Estate Report is brought to you by Yardley’s Drew Ferrara with RE/MAX TOTAL. Drew Ferrara has been Ranked #1 of all Bucks County’s RE/MAX Agents for 4 years running (2011 through 2014); has earned the distinction as one of the top 25% of the top 1% of all real estate agents in Bucks County; and even ranks among the local agents representing homes with the least active days on market (Source: Trend)!

In the past, there’s been a stigma attached to selling homes in the winter. The misconception was that putting a house on the market in the winter would cause your sale to languish for months until the weather warmed up. However, there is a way to take advantage of the urgency that is typically associated with buyers who look for a new home during the winter. Here are some strategies that you can use to make your home marketable during the colder months.

Safety First

Nothing is more off-putting to buyers than checking out a home that hasn’t been maintained for the winter. Curb appeal still applies in the winter selling months. Make sure snow is shoveled off walkways and slippery ice is removed. If you’re not living at the home during the time, hire a service to take care of any shoveling and salting. Remove any low-lying branches that could be obstructing walkways. Prune any shrubs and trees if necessary before showing the property.

Get the Exterior in Tip Top Shape

Ideally, you should have prepared the exterior before the winter in order to sell. Any painting or major repair work to the siding or roof should have been addressed. On mild winter weather days, you can give the siding a good washing with water and soap. Clean out the gutters and remove any debris that may be littering your lawn. You may also want to consider adding plants and shrubs to your yard that can survive harsh winter weather, like holly. Decorate your entranceway to make the house look inviting. Urns and wreaths can be used to add much needed greenery to drab exteriors.

Pay Attention to Lighting

Since daylight hours are scarcer during the winter, there’s less time to use lighting to your advantage during walkthroughs. Pull back all the curtains and open the blinds to let as much natural sunlight into the home as possible. Don’t forget to keep the windows in your home as clean as possible since grimy windows can be a turnoff. Replace any bulbs before listing the home and have the lights on in each room during a showing.

Holiday Décor

When decorating for the holidays, consider the old adage of less is more. Use tasteful pieces that don’t overwhelm potential buyers. Consider using winter decorations in lieu of overly religious décor pieces. Create a cozy atmosphere when showing the property. If you have a fireplace, light it before prospective buyers arrive. You can also light any scented candles you may have on hand. Baking something delicious in the oven before the property is shown is another way to add to the overall welcoming feel of the home. Just remember not to overdo it with the smells since buyers may be wary that you’re trying to mask an odor problem.

Maintain Cleanliness

Nothing is worse than having buyers trek mud and snow through your house and dirty your clean floors. Keep a rubber mat at the doorway and consider providing shoe protectors for potential buyers to wear while traipsing through the house.

Photograph on Clear Days

Only take pictures of the property on nice weather days. This may be difficult with the unpredictable Bucks County weather. Snow on the ground is fine as long as its freshly fallen and clean. Photograph the property when the skies are clear and the sun is shining. Consider adding a video tour of the home too to the listing page. Prospective buyers may be hesitant about traveling to see a home during the winter, but a video tour can allow them to see the highlights before deciding to schedule a walkthrough.

Price Competitively

Pricing too high will send out the signal to agents and potential buyers that you’re not serious about selling the property. Most agents recommend a good starting price instead of consistently slashing the price.

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