Winter Home-Selling Checklist
When it comes to selling your home during the winter, there are several unique challenges to overcome. Here’s a checklist of everything you need to do before putting your property on the market:
- Check your heating and cooling system
- Have your home professionally cleaned
- Inspect exterior features
- Make upgrades as necessary
- Clean everything
- Make sure your pool is properly staged
Here’s a closer look at each.
Check Your Heating and Cooling System
The winter months bring cold weather, so make sure your heating system is working properly. Have a professional check your furnace and ensure it’s in proper working order before you list your home. Make sure to also inspect the air conditioning system if necessary.
Have Your Home Professionally Cleaned
A professional cleaning service can help you spruce up your home and make it more inviting to buyers. They can do a thorough cleaning job, which may include washing windows, buffing hardwood floors, and scrubbing surfaces.
Related: What if a home has foundation problems?
Inspect Exterior Features
Take the time to go around the exterior of your home and check for any damage or areas that need attention. Make sure all outdoor features are in good condition so potential buyers will be impressed by what they see on the outside of your house.
Make Upgrades As Necessary
If there are certain things you’ve been wanting to fix or upgrade in your home that you haven’t gotten around to doing yet, now is a great time to do it before you list your property. Consider sprucing up the kitchen or bathroom, or making small repairs to damaged walls and floors.
Related: How to make a small bathroom more impressive to buyers
Clean Everything
After you’ve inspected your home, do a deep cleaning throughout each room. Vacuum carpets, dust surfaces, wash windows and doors—anything you can do to make your home shine. Doing this will ensure buyers won’t be distracted by any messes when they come over for a tour of your property.
Make Sure Your Pool is Properly Staged
If you have an outdoor swimming pool, make sure it looks inviting and well-maintained so potential buyers aren’t turned off by it. Clear away any debris and consider adding accessories like floating candles or plants.
Related: 5 questions to ask your REALTOR® before you list your home
What About Home Staging?
Home staging is a great way to make your home look more attractive to buyers. You can do this yourself, or hire a professional home stager to help you create the perfect look for your listing.
Check out these staging tips to get started:
- Declutter and depersonalize
- Choose neutral colors for walls, furniture, and decor
- Enhance the entryway to make a great first impression
- Add pops of color with bright accessories
- Place mirrors strategically to create the illusion of more space
Here’s a closer look at each.
Declutter and Depersonalize
Take the time to go through each room of your home and remove any items you don’t need. Separate personal items like photos, knick-knacks, and trophies so buyers can more easily envision their own possessions in the space.
Choose Neutral Colors
It’s important to keep colors neutral when staging a home for sale. Stick with shades like beiges, whites, grays, and tans so potential buyers aren’t turned off by bright colors or loud patterns.
Enhance the Entryway
Make sure the first thing buyers see when they enter your home is an inviting entryway that makes a good impression. Place some fresh flowers on the table, add a rug, and hang a nice painting or photograph on the wall to make it look welcoming.
Related: Can you withdraw your home from the market?
Add Pops of Color
Adding some color with accessories is an easy way to brighten up the space without overwhelming buyers. Hang some colorful curtains, place rugs in bright hues, and add small details like decorative pillows or vases with flowers. This will give your home a warm and inviting feel.
Place Mirrors Strategically
Mirrors can be used to create the illusion of more space in smaller rooms. Place one across from a window so light reflects off of it, making the room seem bigger than it actually is. You can also use them as focal points by placing artwork or photos above them for added style.
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