10 Tips to Sell Your Home in Winter

1. Keep the snow and ice at bay. If a Buyer can’t access your front door, gets wet feet or, worse, slips on ice and snow they won’t be making an offer on your house. Shoveling and salting the walkway makes your home look maintained and cared for.

2. Warm it up. Whenever possible light up the fireplace or wood stove or turn the heat up to a comfortable temperature. A Buyer won’t stay long if they’re shivering.

3. Light it up. Encourage showings during the day. Open the curtains and blinds wide and turn on all the lights.

4. Wash the windows. First impressions are everything. When a Buyer looks out your window don’t let grime and streaks be the only thing they see. And, if your home enjoys a seasonal view – when the trees have lost their leaves – you want to show this to your advantage.

5. Make it cozy inside. Make the buyers comfortable and help them picture themselves in the home. A warm quilt on the sofa and a thick the comforter on the bed are two simple things that invite a buyer into the space with texture and warmth.

6. Emphasize winter positives. Is your home on a convenient bus route? Is your street plowed and salted regularly? Do you often retain power when your neighbours are in the dark? Make it clear by leaving a feature sheet on your kitchen table.

7. Make it festive and inviting. Greet your Buyers at the door as if they were guests arriving for a party! Leave a plate of cookies, warm cider or bottled water on the dining table. This makes a very positive first impression and can ensure your home is the one a Buyer remembers.

8. Play with the senses. The smell of fresh baked ginger cookies, cinnamon rolls or pies and bread are all wonderful aromas to greet a Buyer upon entering the home. Maybe you can’t bake prior to every showing – try scented candles. Don’t overdo it – you don’t want a Buyer to think you’re hiding something.

9. Protect your investment. Leave a sign at the main entry asking guests to remove their shoes. This shows a pride of ownership that will resonate with Buyers.

10. Use the season to your advantage. Use seasonally appropriate decorations to add a festive mood to your home. Think winter wreathes for the front door and flower arrangements for the dining table.