Canada: Top Five Ways to Market Your Home in Winter

When it comes to selling real estate, we always hear about getting your home ready for the Spring season. As a member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, however, my experience tells me that, when marketed effectively, homes can sell in any season…even the cold winter months.
Here are some great tips for effectively marketing your home right through to the spring thaw!
1. Winter curb appeal. A winter landscape can be just as attractive as a leafy, floral one and can often offer a neater appearance for your yard. Bare spots can be more obvious in winter, though, so camouflage them by laying mulch down around shrubbery and in flower beds. Keep the yard raked and grass mowed, and keep gutters clear of leaves and debris. Make sure pathways and driveways are clear of snow and ice at all times. And, as always, check for peeling paint or rotting window frames…even more obvious without the cover of summer foliage.

2. Tone down but take advantage of holiday décor. Now is not the time for a Griswold-style holiday! Don’t inundate your home with blinking lights, inflatable snowmen or a giant Santa on the roof. That said, a few tasteful, non-denominational decorations could boost your home’s appeal. Try some small, white lights in a tree or framing your front door, or some nice evergreen touches. You might even consider leaving this subtle décor in place through the winter season

3. Stage outdoor areas. While you might normally bring in the patio furniture when colder weather arrives, leave it out to give buyers a sense of you’re your home’s outdoor gathering spots in warmer weather. A chimenea or any portable outdoor fire pit is a nice touch for an outdoor patio or deck.

4. Play up the cozy factor. Set the heat high enough to make the house as warm as possible, without overheating it, which could make it seem stuffy. Fireplaces are always a big draw, but even more so in winter; make sure it is clean and arrange the room to highlight this feature. Add some cozy touches by draping a warm throw over a big arm chair and ask your agent to light some candles if the situation permits.

5. Make light a focus. Buyers will be paying special attention to how much light fills your home, especially during the cold, short days of winter. Open all drapes, curtains and blinds to let as much light in as possible. On drearier days, turn on all the lights in the home. Well-maintained houseplants and floral arrangements are also more important for brightening your home during winter.