Selling your home in the winter months has previously been recognised as a much quieter and less attractive time to sell, however, with increasing demand to enter the property market, this is now far from the case.
If you’re thinking of selling now but worried how to pull it off, fear not! Through acclimatising your property to suit current weather conditions, to assessing the current market demand, a successful campaign could be right around the corner. In this weeks blog, we are going to share some top tips in how to market your home effectively, during the cold season.
Take advantage of minimal competition and motivated buyers
As previously mentioned, traditionally sellers are hesitant to put their property on the market during winter, as they’re fearful some elements of their home won’t be portrayed in the best light. So, if you’re jumping on the market now, you won’t have a lot of competition which will drive demand up. If you’re also pushing for a comfy, cosy aesthetic in your home, this will encourage buyers to snap it up as they know your house is prepared for the season.
Make the most of the winter curb-appeal
When your property goes live on the market, you definitely want to make a great first impression for people who drive by and the best place to start is the exterior. Curb-appeal is a year-round concern for all sellers, and admittedly it’s easier to create a beautiful scene when the flowers are in bloom during the spring. However, there are a few ways to brighten up your front garden in these darker months:
- Give your front door a splash of paint – bright, warm colours like red, orange, or blue, add a bit of pizzazz to your home and make it seem more inviting against the Aussie winter backdrop
- Fix up any dodgy paint jobs around the exterior of your home – adding a fresh coat of paint to the whole exterior of your home, or patching up some scuffed marks can make a whole heap of difference to your curb appeal
- Clear the front garden of any fallen debris, leaves, weeds etc. that make the property look neglected
- Decorate your garden with some large flowering potted plants that bloom better in the cooler months including begonias, geraniums, and petunias
- Adding some garden lighting, such as garden spotlights, deck lights, and bollard lights can add a new dimension to your property and brighten things up
Acclimatising your interior
For home opens, you’ll definitely want to ensure your property has been styled and presented to mirror the current weather conditions. A warm and cosy house can be very welcoming when the weather is at its chillilest. A few good tips to keep on top of this include:
- Keep the heater on at a comfortable temperature during opens. It’s also worth while to check that the heating system is working perfectly as this can be a point of consideration for prospective buyers to make an offer, as they won’t have to spend money or time to have it repaired
- If you have a fireplace, it can create a lovely, warm ambience having it crackling and burning in the background during home opens
- Adding some beautiful, thick blankets to the sofas and beds may also inspire ideas of cosy living in the house permanently
- If you really want to impress, having some freshly baked cookies in the oven or on the bench, will assist in creating a more memorable visit to prospective buyers with the scent of sweetness and warmth lingering as they venture through the home
- Lighting – during inspections, keeping lights on and also dressing up the space with funky lamps and shades, is essential at home opens. Natural light is also incredibly attractive to potential buyers, so make sure your curtains and blinds are up to let in as much light as possible throughout the home.
Keep your home clean
Spending time to ensure your home is spotless and immaculately presented is important no matter the time of the year. Keeping floors clean and ensure all dirty gear is hidden away, is particularly important during winter months, when mud and dirt is generally more present than ever.
While all of the above are important to consider when selling your home, having a motivated agent is by far and above your most valuable asset to a successful sale. If you’re looking for agents that mirror these successful negotiations, Jac Fear and Karen Firth are your people!
For more information, please contact ART OF REAL ESTATE today.