As the seasons change and the weather starts cooling down, the environment in the housing market will change as well. Fewer sellers and buyers are willing to brave the cold and take time from a busy holiday schedule to make sales, but the decrease in competition can actually make winter a good time to put your Garland, TX house on the market.
To make the most of this possible advantage and speed up what can be a slow time to sell, try these tips for boosting your home’s winter appeal to potential buyers.
1. Keep the Walkways Clear
The exterior is the first impression anyone will get of your house, and it counts. Keep walkways free of snow and ice in the frigid winter months to make getting into your house an easier, safer, and more appealing idea to your prospective buyers.
2. Create a Cozy Atmosphere
The winter months are an opportune time to play up the warm and fuzzy feelings that come with a “homey” house. Place a throw blanket or afghan on the arm of the couch. Put on soft music in the background. If you’ll be home right before the showing, light a fire in the fireplace.
These touches can make buyers feel at home before they’ve even put down an offer, and they’re most effective during cold weather.
3. Shine the Windows
Cloudy winter days limit the amount of sunlight that can brighten up your house, but clean windows make the most of what little light there is. They also give the appearance of a well-maintained house, a trait that’s reassuring to buyers in any season.
4. Set Timers on Lights
Using artificial light will also improve the house’s presentation. Set timers on outdoor lights that will greet buyers when they first see the house, and put them on indoor lights as well so that every dark corner is warmly illuminated. This will make the house look bigger, well-kept, and add to the cozy mood.
5. Appeal to the Sense of Smell
Nothing pulls people into a room quite like a delicious aroma. While you should be careful not to overdo it, baking a batch of cookies, simmering a cinnamon stick, or burning a few drops of essential oil can associate positive feelings with your house in the minds of buyers.
Part of the staging process should include minimizing unpleasant odors as well. Grind up ice and citrus rinds in the garbage disposal and sprinkle baking soda in trash cans to neutralize any less-than-fresh smells.
6. Serve Up a Hot Treat
When buyers follow their noses to those irresistible aromas, reward them. Provide something to nibble or sip on that’s hot, tasty, and must be consumed slowly like cocoa, tea, coffee, or even a cup of steaming soup. These options encourage buyers to linger and look around for longer, giving them more time to dwell on the features of your house.
7. Turn Up the Heat
Finally, pay a little extra to turn up the heat before any showings. This small touch will make buyers imagine cuddling up in your house away from the cold and encourage them to stick around long enough to make an offer.
Selling your Garland, TX house in winter can be much easier and more profitable by framing it in just the right ways. These tips will help you create a cozy ambiance that speaks to buyers so that you can make the winter season the time to sell your North Texas home.
If you don’t have time to wait around for the perfect buyers in this frigid season, sell your Garland, TX house for cash in winter instead! We can make an offer in a matter of hours and close in a matter of days. Call us at 469-250-0018 or contact us online to sell your house fast!