December 17, 2009

Top 3 Tips for selling your home in the Winter

Posted to Michalene Melges

Tip 1: Clean it up! Make sure that your home and the grounds leading to your front entrance are cleaned and salted for your agents and new guests. We want the “WOW factor”… Not the Whoops! Advertise to your agent that you have done so… We want buyers looking around at the beautiful trees, your pretty front door. Not focusing on not falling. Winter is a clean slate, beautiful snow, no worrying about the edging, grass mowing shaking the windows while you are having a showing… but make sure that you are taking full advantage of that by having this pristine.

Tip 2: Light it up! Winter, if done right… can be Magical. The sun sets around 4 o’clock… but the world doesn’t go to bed. Showcase your home! Why not spotlight your home. Add a few spots lights highlighting your entrance, your favorite Maple Tree…something that has some impact. You will shock yourself at how much of a difference it makes. Create the feeling no matter how big or small.. The effect of light creates the illusion of Grandeur!

Tip 3: Warm it up! Now is the time to play up the interior of your home! I tend to put out all of my favorite pictures or some little frivolities that make us feel good and cozy… Forget it. When you are marketing your home, this is the major number one NO-No De-clutter and add Color! Winter is a time for a warm palette…Throw Pillows and Afghans in Crimson, Deep Oranges, Chocolates… This is not an expensive endeavor. I stage home using the designer accessories that my sellers really love and fill in the basics with Martha Stewart, Target , Kohl’s and you got it… Wal-mart .. It’s the ‘ole 2:1 ratio. For every Designer Pillow or accessory I have 2 basics to tame it down. If you are working on a tight budget then for every pattern have 2 plain. Most importantly, if you have a fireplace, turn it ON! We want to create an atmosphere for our buyers to feel warm, at ease and want to start talking about how they see themselves in the space. The more time they spend, the more likely they are to write an offer.

Posted By: Michalene Melges

Tagged With: curb appeal, home selling advice, winter home sales and winter selling tips
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