Winter is the dreariest season of all. The cold weather helps put a chill on real estate sales. It may not be the first choice of a season for selling your home but what if you have to sell your home? What if you have no choice but to put your house on the market?
House hunting is not very popular during the holiday season. Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day is the slowest time for home buying. However, those who are out looking during this time tend to be serious buyers, which could result in a very quick sale, so make your house stand out.
So how should you stage your home to make it attractive during the holiday season?
Here are 6 tips for selling your home during the holidays
- 1. Decorate with Taste
Don’t repeat what Clark Griswold did in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and light up the neighborhood. Decorate conservatively. Don’t overdo decorations. A simple wreath, menorah or a strand of lights would be sufficient.
- Make Your House Smell Good
The first thing you notice when you enter a house is how it smells. A clean smell of pine, baking cookies or an apple cinnamon scent will give a prospective buyer a good first impression. Candles and holiday potpourri will decorate as well as create a pleasant aroma. Smell is associated with food and emotions and a bad smell will affect your buyers in a negative way.
- 3. Think Warm and Inviting
Winter is a great time to convey a cozy impression. If you have a fireplace or wood burning stove, keep it on during an open house for the ambience. Rearrange the furniture to make the rooms warm and cozy. Keep the temperature in the house warm, to make any visitor feel welcome.
- Take Advantage of Natural Light
Let the natural light shine in. Make sure the windows are clean and encourage showings during the daylight hours. Keep the blinds, drapes and shutters open to allow the light to enter with minimal decorations on the window and sills.
- 5. First Impressions
Winter challenges our green thumb. Use potted evergreens, holly bushes and other winter plantings to enhance the appearance of your property. Keep the outside paths free and clear of ice and snow. Make sure your roof is free of icicles or snow that may fall and cause injury. Make sure you have sufficient lighting on the outside. The curb appeal of a house sometimes decides whether a buyer wants to see the inside of the house or not.
- 6. Remember the Basics
The everyday maintenance, cleaning and repairs must be in order. Make sure the house is clean, free of clutter and freshly painted. The interior and exterior should have an inviting appearance and can make the difference between sale and no sale.
Let your house stand out at this festive time of year by putting some extra thought into decorating and staging. If you keep these things in mind, your home will be more attractive to potential buyers during the holiday season.
Cynthia Lippolis
Licensed Real Estate Broker
Prudential River Towns Real Estate
133 Grand Street
Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520
Telephone: 914-271-3300 ext. 214
Fax: 914-271-3307
