Although most people think the best time to sell a house is in the spring or summer, there are a number of reasons why you may need to place your York County area home on the market during the winter months. You may need to relocate for a new job, or perhaps you need more space for an aging parent or a new baby. Maybe you just want to move right now. Naturally, when the outside is fresh with tree greenery and flowers blooming, your yard can be more attractive during the warmer weather. It can still be attractively staged in the winter, even if it is a bit more of a challenge.
The thing about winter is that it requires so much “stuff”. Heavier clothing (and more of it) and cumbersome footwear is a fact of life. If you’re selling your home, you’ll need to keep after this. Instead of keeping all the coats, hats, gloves, and boots in the hall closet, or on and under a hall tree, consider stowing some of them in the bedroom closets. The extra steps required could well be worth your while. Leave a couple of empty hooks available for people who are viewing your home to place their coats. The available space sends a message that your house has plenty of closet space.
When staging your home for sale, it’s important to keep the areas around the entrances clean and neat. Store snow shovels, blowers, and other snow removal paraphernalia in the garage, or a shed in the back, or somewhere else which isn’t readily visible. If keeping salt or sand handy for melting ice is necessary, have a nice container for it that looks like it’s part of the decor.
This brings us to the topic of snow and ice. It’s important to keep your walkways as clean as possible. Use a liberal hand with whatever deicer you employ. The main reason for this, of course, is safety. However, keeping the walkways cleared gives your home the sort of manicured look that a nicely mowed lawn gives in warm weather.
The inside of the entrance is another area of safety concern. You don’t want prospective buyers to slip on a floor that’s wet from tracking in snow. Be sure to have a good mat for wiping feet. In fact, it would be better to have two mats – one outside the door, and an attractive one inside. These are two small expenses that can have a great effect on the appearance of your home.
Taking pictures of your home in the winter can be a bit tricky. If you have no shots of the home during the spring or summer, or even the fall when the leaves are colorful, you may have to do some staging for the photos. You might be able to get some good shots after a pretty snowfall. Or you could jazz things up a bit by stringing some lights in a nearby tree and taking some night shots.
If you’re selling during the holiday season, a modest amount of decoration is acceptable, but don’t go overboard. Some lights outlining certain features of your house can be attractive. Also, lights lining the walkways can be an added safety feature. Having the whole place covered in figures, lights, and ornamentation might obscure some of the best features of your home. Keep it simple.
Some things are important no matter what the season. A good paint job is one. Also, be sure everything is in good working order. Plumbing should be in order, light switches should work, and appliances should function. Lighting is more important during the gloomy days of winter. You want your house to be a cheery oasis.
Finally, don’t think selling in the winter will force you to sacrifice on the price. Don’t be tempted to take the first low-ball offer just because you think it’s bad timing. We can get you a great price, no matter what season it is. Let us know if you’re interested in listing or buying a home in the York County area, and we’ll be ready to help. The Jim Powers Team of local Realtors® is here for you from start to end. Visit our website to learn more, then contact us or give us a call at 717- 417- 4111.