While Florida’s real estate season is just getting started, other parts of the U.S. will be slowing down.
For those people, here is some advice to ensure a quick sale for a great price if you are selling your home during the next few months.
Skip the holiday décor – Staging basics such as decluttering and depersonalizing still count during the holidays, so it’s best to keep all of your decorations in storage. You never know who your potential buyer is, so you don’t want to potentially turn someone off with decorations.
Update your photos – Even without holiday decorations, photos can quickly look dated as the seasons change. It’s fine to lead your listing right now with a gorgeous photo of crimson and gold leaved trees on the front lawn, but once the leaves have fallen, you’ll want a new photo to keep the listing looking fresh. For example, try to snap photos on days when there’s a blue sky, which will pop against a blanket of white snow.
Keep the outside neat – Curb appeal is just as important but slightly more difficult to achieve in fall and winter. A leaf or snow covered lawn can be beautiful, but it can also get messy quickly. Put an added focus on raking and removing leaves, and consider hiring a snow removal service to be sure that your driveway and walkways are clear and safe for visitors at all times.
Clear the entryway – You’ll want to make sure there’s space for a few people (like a couple and their agent) to stand in the foyer, shed their winter clothes and stomp off the debris on their shoes. Provide an umbrella stand and shoe covers to keep visitors from tracking mud and snow through your home.
Make it warm (literally and figuratively) – If you’re going to be out of the house, be sure that your realtor arrives early to crank up the thermostat before a showing (or leave it at a warmer temperature before you leave), which will help potential buyers feel more comfortable. It’s vital that a house be warm and not so cold that they want to get out of the house as soon as possible. If you have a gas fireplace, make sure it’s lit and enhance the warm, hospitable feeling with a tasteful throw blanket or area rug.
Be more flexible with showings – There are fewer hours of daylight, when your home looks its best, in the winter months, so try and accommodate potential buyers who want to come for daytime visits.
Light it up – Even during the day, cloudy gray skies can make window lined rooms feel gloomy. Adding floor lamps and turning on all the lights will make the property feel more welcoming. Light up every dark corner because they can make a room feel smaller than it is. If visitors are coming at night, you’ll want to turn on your exterior lights as well.
