By Riley Howe
You might be wondering if winter is a bad time to sell you home, but people look for property to buy at all times of the year. In fact, selling your house in winter can even have its own benefits.
In this blog post, we share 6 tips for selling your home in winter and make sure that you will keep the price hot despite the cold weather.
Make sure it is ready for warm living
The spring selling season is traditionally where activity bursts at the seams in the housing market, but the shortfall in winter stock makes it a prime opportunity for you. Getting ahead of the spring selling season, when property floods the market, can also be a good move as there are often still loads of buyers but not many properties.
Start by making your home cosier. After all, no matter the season, selling a home is all about appealing to people emotions – you want your prospective buyers to fall in love with your property. Make sure it is warm when people come to inspect it. Turn the heaters on, and if you have a fireplace, make sure you have a fire burning (or turn it on if it is gas).
Add a warm touch to each of your rooms by placing a winter coloured throw rug over the back of a sofa, or put coloured doona covers at the end of the beds to help create a warm and welcoming feel. Another idea is to change your cushion covers to a colour more suited to winter. This can help change the whole feel of a room and make it cozier for your buyers.
Keep your home clean
Spending time making sure every part of your home is clean is important no matter what time of the year you sell. However, it is even more important with the added muck that comes in on dirty shoes and wet clothes in winter.
Keep floors clean and ensure all dirty family gear is hidden away, so people inspecting your property can’t see it. And of course, clear away any leaves that have fallen off the trees – a tidy front garden helps set the right tone.
Make the most of the great outdoors
Don’t forget about the great outdoors. Spend time and give your garden a simple makeover by adding defining borders to your flower beds. Timber borders are popular. You can also outline your beds with small shrubs or grasses. Add a few larger plants as focal points but keep them in proportion to the size of your garden. As a finishing touch, add some flowering plants as it will make your home much more welcoming.
Show your buyers how they could use your home’s outdoor space all-year-round. How about adding a fire pit or heaters, or even a pizza oven to show how easy it is to entertain. Add some warm winter throws over your outside chairs to help bring colour to the area and make it more appealing. Buyers love more living options, and the outside is an ideal extra space.
Brighten the space
Another tip for for selling your home in winter is to brighten the space. Light will be just as important as heat when it comes to selling your home for more in winter. Maximise the daylighting in the home, and you will also be able to boast that your home’s energy bills are enticingly low. Natural light is an incredibly attractive prospect for any house hunter. Having drapes and windows that let the sunshine in across an entire room is a great way to boost appeal. Keeping lights on at open for inspections is also essential in winter.
Shuffling furniture and perhaps even widening windows can give you this effect if you have the time and budget for it. Make sure it is done right with the appropriate glazing or curtains or you might end up dealing with a glare that can put buyers off.
Check your timing
By checking weekly auction results, and in particular, the expected number of homes for sale on any given weekend, you can pick the right timing for a quick sale. Winter generally means less supply on the market, which means buyers have to compete more furiously to secure a home.
By doing diligent research and putting your home up for auction on a weekend when there isn’t much activity, you could funnel many buyers your way, who then have to push further and pay more to outdo the competition – leaving you with a handy bottom line.
Show off your home’s strengths
When your house is ideal for winter living, especially cosy nights, make sure you show off these strengths. Host your open home during the evening, when people can experience the warmth and comfort of your property first-hand. During the day, it isn’t as practical to have heaters going and living areas set up for relaxation. Buyers might even think you are wasteful with your power.
Cosy indoor areas, elegant drapes and ornate lighting fixtures can all become highly appealing visual elements of the home when your setting is a cold winter evening. People will be able to instantly imagine themselves relaxing at home. Perhaps they will be willing to part with a little extra to make sure they get your favour.
Following these 6 tips for selling your home in the winter should help you maximise your final sale price. However, don’t hesitate to get in touch with your local agents at LJ HOOKER COLYTON ST CLAIR on 02 9833 8881 or book a free property appraisal to know more about how to make your property stand out from the crowd and make yourself a fantastic sale.
DISCLAIMER – The information provided is for guidance and informational purposes only and does not replace independent business, legal and financial advice which we strongly recommend. Whilst the information is considered true and correct at the date of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact the accuracy of the information provided. LJ Hooker will not accept responsibility or liability for any reliance on the blog information, including but not limited to, the accuracy, currency or completeness of any information or links.
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