Winter listing has challenges, opportunities

Q:

We have had our home on the market since last spring. With winter approaching, I’m wondering whether we should take it off the market until next spring?

A:

You could. Winter is the slowest, dreariest time of the year to try and sell a home. But, it is not impossible.

People do have to move in winter. And a seller can use staging, less competition and seasonal opportunities to their advantage.

As you point out, many sellers indeed do take their homes off the market if they haven’t sold by Thanksgiving. That’s understandable.

The period between Turkey Day and New Year’s Day is the slowest time of the year for home sales as people focus on the holidays, family and other types of shopping.

January, February and March aren’t much better for home sales. Still, there are buyers out there who need to move for a job or personal reasons.

Although there are fewer buyers in the market, there are also fewer sellers, giving your home a chance to stand out. Here are some tips for selling your home in the dead of winter:

Remember the basics. Take care of needed repairs in any season. Clean your home thoroughly, get rid of clutter and tidy up the yard.

Price aggressively. Don’t give the home away, but be sure you are priced properly for your market.

Check recent sale prices in your neighborhood, and price competitively. If your home is priced correctly, it will sell in any season.

In staging your home, think warm and cozy. Rearrange the furniture to make rooms look larger.

Apply a fresh coat of paint to make them look brighter. Light a fire in the fireplace. Turn up the heat.

Open up curtains and drapes to let in as much natural light as possible. Days are the shortest and darkest in winter.

Make sure your home is well lit. Turn on lights even during daylight hours.

Selling your home is no time to worry about the electric bill. Clean windows. Decorate with warm colors.

Shovel walkways and driveways. This sounds like a no brainer, but many homeowners who have already vacated their premises do not keep the property shoveled out.