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It may be cold outside but the market is hot right now for selling your home! Inventory is low right now so homes are selling quickly and for listed value or higher in most cases. Make the process easier and more effective by following these tips to get your home winter ready.
Keep the temperature up. While you may appreciate a lower utility bill with keeping your house at a cool 60 degrees, you need to remember that you are selling an experience to your potential buyers. While 60 degrees is fine when it is just you at home, during walk-throughs or open houses, you will want to create a warm, inviting atmosphere so that the people visiting your home are not shivering from the cold.
Take care of the ice and snow. Make sure to keep sidewalks, driveways, doorways and stairs clear for access. Not only is it unappealing to not see clear visible walkways, it is a safety hazard as well. You want your potential buyers to have a safe trip from their car into the home.
Watch out for ice dams. While the look of an ice dam is almost magical in the winter time, these icy snow creations can wreak havoc on your home. Ice dams form around the eaves and gutters of a roof causing tremendous ice damage. They can loosen shingles or tear them off, and force water into our homes. This in turn can cause damaged ceilings, peeling paint, ruined insulation and if you don’t fix the problem right away, mold! Nothing turns away a potential buyer faster than possible water damage. Make sure to not only fix the ice dam itself but any kind of water staining left behind as well.
Showcase the fireplace. If you have a fireplace this would be a great time to show it off! With a gas fireplace it is easy enough to start up before the potential buyers arrive. However, a wood burning fireplace would not be safe to light and keep lit. For this type of fireplace, set up the wood for a fire, thereby showing the potential for the home. Either way this is a great additional feature and will add to the cozy environment.
No shoes. It is easy to want to be accommodating for potential buyers but sometimes this doesn’t work in your favor. A boundary that buyers may actually appreciate is the “no shoes” rule. Thinking about all of the slush, dirt and salt that people will be bringing in your home, it will be cleaner and more sanitary to keep it confined to the front door. Set up a sign and a mat where they can place their footwear.
Putting your home out there in winter may seem too early, but motivated buyers are out there and waiting for that perfect home to come on to the market! Contact a Shorewest, REALTOR® today to sell your home!
Tags: Home Selling, How To, selling your home, shorewest, shorewest family, Shorewest Realtors
Categories: Home Improvement, Home Selling, How to
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