A lot of people think that winter is a poor choice when it comes to selling their homes. But when you think about it, more people list their properties in the warmer months, and this means that the lack of competition in the cooler months can work in your favour.
If you are planning a winter sale, it’s never too early to start taking steps toward getting your home ready to market.
Here, I’m going to run you through 10 ways to prepare your home for a winter sale.
1. Cleaning and Decluttering
Start the packing process early and make your move easier.
- Get rid of the clutter and remove stuff that you aren’t using regularly
- Consider donating items that you haven’t used in the last year
- Consider placing some of the items that you’re not using currently but would like to keep in temporary storage.
- Any broken or damaged items can be thrown away
- Sort through your old paperwork and shred what you don’t need anymore
They say that the devil’s in the details, and this is especially true when it comes to selling your home. When you clean, be sure to pay attention to them!
- Wash all the windows
- Straighten up all the items inside your closets
- Dust the baseboards
- Dust your blinds
- Wash the curtains
- Clean and polish your appliances
2. Inspect Your Home Thoroughly
There’s nothing worse than an unpleasant surprise in the middle of the sales process. To avoid any unexpected issues, make sure that you carry out a thorough inspection of your home.
- Check the plumbing, make sure there are no leaks
- Inspect the whole house for signs of insects and/or rodents
- Make sure all the windows have complete undamaged seals
- Look over the walls and floors, make sure there’s no sign of water damage
And of course, be sure to fix any issues that you come across.
3. Paint
Although your personal tastes may be eclectic or infused with bright colours, remember that buyers prefer to see a blank canvas when it comes to the walls. This gives them a greater chance of envisioning how the home might look when they live there, and the possibilities that they can bring to the house.
To increase the appeal of your home to the widest audience possible, choose a neutral wall colour in a matt finish.
And remember to repair any damage to the walls, such as nail holes, before you paint. Touch up the paintwork on the ceilings needed.
4. Get Rid of Any Odours
Household odours can be a turn-off to potential buyers, but don’t go reaching for the air fresheners just yet – most people will not appreciate being enveloped in a fug of Febreze!
Instead try some freshly baked bread or cookies in the kitchen, or some cut flowers in the hallway.
5. Finish Your DIY Projects
Now is a great time to complete any DIY jobs in the home you’ve started and haven’t quite finished. Remember that you’ll find a buyer faster and the sales process will be much easier if all those pesky little jobs have been taken care of.
If you’re thinking of starting any new DIY tasks make sure that you’ll be able to complete them quickly.
6. Check Your Hardware and Fixtures
Inexpensive upgrades to hardware like your shower heads, taps, mirrors, and cabinets can make a big difference when it comes to visual impact. Consider replacing fixture that are looking dated or worn.
7. Check Your Floors
Make sure that your carpets are clean and look fresh, this is a good time to invest in having them professionally cleaned to get rid of any lingering stains. Hard surfaces like tiles and floorboards should be cleaned and shined.
If you have floorboards that are damaged or badly worn, remove and replace them. If your wooden floors are scratched and look dull, invest in getting them refinished.
8. Stage Your Home
Staging is an essential part of showing your home to potential buyers. You can do this yourself or you can enlist the help of professionals.
Maximise the space and natural light in your home by placing furniture in ways that best display this. Consider how each room moves into the next.
If your décor is looking a bit drab or out of date, rentals for staging can be brought in for a temporary period.
9. Make Your Entrance Welcoming
Remember that first impressions last and the first thing that potential buyers will see is your front door and entrance. Make sure it looks inviting.
Paint the door if it’s looking dull, replace or shine the hardware, and keep the entrance clear and clean with a minimal amount of decorations.
10. Know Your Right Price
Take a look at similar properties to yours online and ask your agent for advice to find out what you should be listing your home for.
Looking at recent sales and market conditions will also help you to determine the right price in the market at any given time.
With attention to the steps above, your home will be market ready in no time. Please get in touch with me if you have any questions about selling or preparing your home for sale over the cooler months.
Wayne Walter
