How to Sell Your Home in Winter

Even though the spring and summer markets are the hottest times for selling a home, don’t overlook the winter months when people still need to move. There are many reasons why you shouldn’t wait to put your home on the market, and many tips on how to sell your home even when the weather is cold.

Why You Should Sell in the Winter

We are currently in a seller’s market, meaning there is less inventory on the market than there is demand for homes. People want to buy a home, even now. If you put your home on the market in the winter months, you will stand out with less competition. In addition, buyers will be able to acquire loans more quickly, as there is less competition for loan officers’ time there as well. And Realtors have more time to spend with clients showing them homes. Since inventory is limited, you can often get a higher price for your home, and sell in fewer days on the market.

How to Sell a Home in Winter

Staging a home for a winter sale is just as important as any time of year, and there are tips for making your home more appealing this time of year.

Brighten Up

Since winter has short days with less light, it is important to make your home seem bright and cheery. Turn on all interior lights when showing, and brighten up the interior with white paint and accessories. A consistent light color throughout the home will give a spacious feel. Add twinkling white lights to the trees and landscaping outside of the home in the front and back yards, or use a spotlight on the house to illuminate an inviting entrance.

Light the Fire

When you know prospects will be visiting the home, light the gas fireplace to give a warm and inviting atmosphere. In lieu of a fire, stack wood in or near the fireplace or light candles in the fireplace to give the feeling of a fire.

Set for Cozy

Create tableaus in your home of coziness by displaying afghans across a chair or bed or by laying out a board game or buffet setting on the table. Remove and pack up holiday items to create a neutral atmosphere—you want the potential buyers to be able to envision their own decorations in the house. Don’t’ forget the exterior décor. Set a cozy firepit surrounded by chairs and warm throws to show out outdoor entertaining spaces can be appealing.

Clear the Path

Be sure to clear all pathways, parking areas and entrances (front and back) of snow, ice and icicles. You want the potential buyer to be able to safety maneuver all around the home.

Inside the home, clear away all extraneous items including personal items, clutter, extra furniture and household items, etc. to give the feeling of a spacious and airy home. Make it easy for the potential buyers to walk through, look into closets and cabinets, and envision that they will have lots of room for their belongings once they move in.

Store items you want to keep neatly packed in the attic or basement, or better yet, offsite. You don’t want to clutter up your storage spaces with too many boxes either.

Donate and Dispose of Extra Items with 123JUNK

Another great way to winnow down your belongings is to donate items you no long need, use or want. All you need to do is make a pile of these items and call 123JUNK and we’ll take care of the donation for you. We’ll pick up whatever you want to donate and deliver it to our pickup points for our various charitable partners. We’ll document your donation and give you a receipt for your year-end taxes. You can read more about our charity partners’ missions throughout our blog.

Include in your donation pile any items you just wish to get rid of, including items that don’t work, broken things, and trash. We’ll take everything you point us to; you don’t have to separate items yourself. Our professional staff at 123JUNK is trained to sort through every pickup to divide out items we think can be repurposed or recycled, and only then deliver non-salvageable items to the local landfill.

If you’re thinking about selling your home in winter, we’re here to help. If you’re located in Northern Virginia, Maryland or Washington, D.C., contact 123JUNK for easy, professional junk removal.

By the way, we know quite a few Realtors if you need a referral!