Tips and Tricks to Attract Winter Buyers to Your Door

The winter months can be a tricky time for real estate. The cold, wet weather often has buyers putting off home tours. Are you finding you’re not attracting the attention you hoped for?

If so, then it's time to go back to basics to ensure you're providing potential buyers with a five-star presentation of your home.

From experience, we know homes that are prepared meticulously, and priced right will always find a buyer. 

When you hear about homes that are on the market for an extended period, it's usually because the presentation is sub-par, or the owner is hanging out for a price that buyers consider unrealistic.

So, if you want to beat the surge of new properties coming onto the market this spring and close a deal now, here are some tips and tricks:

Declutter: Identify everything from clothes to furniture that you don't need while you sell your home and put it all in storage. By doing this, your home will instantly feel more spacious to a buyer. That's a big plus. 

Depersonalize: This tactic is often forgotten. The bottom line here is that buyers should be able to picture themselves living in your home. If they're surrounded by your knick-knacks and family photos, they're going to feel like a visitor, not a buyer.

Storage Strategy: You may be tempted to tidy your home by putting everything in cupboards and drawers. That's better than nothing, but there's a problem. Storage space is a critical buying consideration. If your storage spaces are overflowing, they'll look insufficient to the buyer. Not good.

Embrace Natural Light: Illuminate your home's best features by maximizing natural light. During showings, open all curtains and blinds to allow sunlight to flood in, and ensure your windows are sparkling clean for maximum brightness. 

Light Bulb Moment: Complement natural light by layering ambient, task and accent lighting to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Opt for soft white bulbs with a warm color temperature to enhance the cozy ambiance. Strategically placed accent lights can further highlight architectural details, artwork, and create inviting corners throughout your home.

Cozy Textures: If it's still chilly outside, make sure your prospective buyers have a warm welcome. Enhance your home's visual warmth and comfort with carefully chosen textiles. Drape warm throws, fuzzy blankets, and soft pillows over sofas and armchairs, opting for luxurious textures like faux fur, velvet, and chunky knits. Layer area rugs over hardwood or tile floors to add warmth.

You're On Fire: If you have a fireplace, make it a captivating focal point. Arrange seating around the fire and you'll instantly create the feeling of warmth and ambiance. A neatly stacked woodpile on the hearth adds another cozy visual. 

Scents of the Season: Engage potential buyers' senses with subtle and inviting aromas. Simmering cinnamon sticks, cloves, and orange peel on the stovetop is good approach. Subtle, natural fragrances like vanilla or pine are alternatives.