Mortgage rates and housing inventory are both considerably low, which creates a competitive seller's market with pent up buyer's demand. This combination makes for a fast-paced market no matter what season it is. Keep reading to find out how to prep your home to sell this winter.
Make your home move-in ready Houses are being snatched off the market quickly, and your home might not sell as fast as the others will if it is not move-in ready. A potential buyer does not want to think about having to make renovations or remodeling in the middle of winter. Completing certain renovations yourself will still generate a return on investment and get your home sold fast.
Create a cozy atmospherePrepare for home showings by lighting your fireplace, having fresh baked goods on display, playing some soft music in the background and serving hot cocoa or cider to your guests. Creating a warm, cozy feeling in your home will make potential buyers feel thankful for stepping out of the winter tundra and into their dream home.
Less is more with holiday decorI think it is safe to say that if you are planning to sell your home this winter, maybe skip out on the over-the-top light display and do not set up the entire winter village that takes up your entire dining room. You can still decorate for the season, but keep it simple and clean. The goal is to create a space that buyers can envision being their own.
Lighting is everything Dark winters can make a home feel drab and depressing, but if you have adequate lighting, it can change the entire mood. If you are showing your home in the daytime, make sure to pull back the curtains and let the natural light shine in your home. With our days getting shorter, it is crucial to take advantage of the natural light while we still can. If you are showing your home in the evening, make sure that your interior and exterior lights are bright and working properly.
Seasonal listing photos Listing photos can make or break a home that is on the market. Potential buyers will look at your listing photos before deciding if your home is even worth going to look at in-person. Unfortunately, photos of your home in the winter might not be appealing. Homes buried in snow or homes with a brown front lawn do not stick out to a buyer. If you are able to, add some high quality photos of your home's exterior in the summer or spring to your listing. This allows buyers to see what they have to look forward to in the warmer months and can attract more attention to your listing.
Looking for more advice during the buying/selling process? Visitwww.crye-leike.com/blogs for more real estate tips and tricks!
ABOUT CRYE-LEIKE: Crye-Leike Real Estate Services (www.clhomes.com), a full service real estate company for over 40 years, is ranked as the third largest independently owned real estate firm in the nation and the largest serving Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and the Mid-South. Crye-Leike has more than 3,200 sales associates, over 800 employees and 140+ company-owned and franchise offices spread across nine states. It generated $6.5 billion in sales volume and 29,925 closed transaction sides corporate wide in 2019 - its biggest year ever - and is on track to achieve the company's goal of $6.8 billion in sales volume this year.