As we all know, buying and selling activity often wanes a little over the winter period, but fear not – this can give motivated sellers who push ahead with marketing two major advantages…
Attract serious and committed buyers
Despite fewer viewings through the winter, those who make the effort to look at potential new homes despite the colder weather, tend to be committed buyers who are serious about making offers.
Enjoy less competition
If there is a slight drop in the number of homes on the market, there’s less competition. That means you should get a higher proportion of buyers viewing your home and, with fewer houses for them to choose from, they should be quicker to make an offer if they like what they see!
So, if you’re wanting to secure a sale this winter, it’s time to refresh your marketing for the season and prepare to show buyers that your property is a great home to live in – whatever the weather outside.Talk to one of our sales team to upgrade your marketing package to our full virtual tour software to maximise your viewing potential during the Christmas holiday
1. Style your home for the season
Work with the colder weather and shorter days by styling your home to reflect the season and create a cosy atmosphere.
Replacing light cushions and throws with heavier materials and darker colours is a simple way to enhance the aesthetic of a room and help potential buyers envisage how the house could look during Christmas time. Pairing this with winter-scented candles, such as cinnamon ,berries and orange, can also help to create a warm and inviting atmosphere.
So, does styling for the season mean you should put up your Christmas decorations?
If you want to, yes! So long as they’re not overpowering. A couple of small, tasteful decorations can add an element of comfort and cheer to your home, but it’s important not to clutter your space with too many decorations – or buyers may not see the properties full potential.
2. Let in the light
Low natural light in winter can sometimes make interiors feel dull, so make sure you let as much daylight in as possible when you have viewings.
Unless the view or outdoor surroundings is very unappealing, pull up the blinds, open the shutters, and push back the curtains on every window. Turn on all of the lights in the home, including those in the appliances and wardrobes.
Placing spotlights on the floor beneath furniture might help to lighten gloomy areas with few windows.
3. Pay attention to the outside of your property
With fewer daylight hours for potential buyers to appreciate the outside of your home – lighting is crucial. Doing as much as you can to illuminate the outside area of the property including the front garden and the path will help potential buyers to get a better idea of what your home looks like, even when it’s dark.
Placing solar powered lights along a path, draping fairy lights around trees and plants in the front garden or installing lighting around the entrance of the home can help to bring your home to life in the darker months.
Ensure that any exterior lights are switched on as guests arrive, to ensure they can clearly see the entrance to the home.
4. Make maintenance a priority
With increased wind and rain during winter, as well as frost and potentially snow, you may have a few more things to do than usual in order to keep your home looking its best during the winter.
Even if you don’t have a viewing scheduled, it’s good to complete frequent maintenance checks, since you never know when potential buyers will be passing by to check out your property!
In particular, pay attention to:
- Make sure to clear paths clear of leaves, snow or anything that could be a slipping hazard
- Check that drains are completely clear so rainwater doesn’t pool or flood
- Place down salt on driveways and pathways well in advance of visits so that viewers are able to safely walk in and out of your property
5. Ensure a warm welcome
To make viewers feel welcome during the cold days of winter, you want to ensure your home is nice and warm. Having a smart thermostat makes doing this easy – as you don’t even have to enter your home to put the heating on, as this is all controlled from a smartphone.
If you have a fireplace in your living room, be sure to have it lit when viewers arrive, it’ll make all the difference with setting the atmosphere.
Enlist the help of Belvoir!
Find out what your agent’s office hours are over the Christmas period and make sure you keep them updated on your plans – any specific days when you’ll be entertaining or hosting family and friends, and when viewings aren’t possible.
If you’re going to be particularly busy over Christmas, you may consider taking a short break from selling for a couple of weeks. The best thing to do is talk to your agent and create a plan for the festive season, so you can relax and enjoy yourself, while making sure you don’t miss out on a potentially perfect buyer.
If you’re keen to sell and are ready to start marketing your home this Christmas, contact us today.
