Selling Homes in 2 Feet of Snow

OK, so Punxsutawney Phil may have indicated on Groundhog day that an early spring was on its way, but he clearly did not know about Nemo and the snowfall that was about to blanket us here in the northeast.  If your home is on the market, perhaps you are worried this will affect buyers and how they view your home. Even though having really high snow banks may not be the best way to show off your house to buyers, people still buy homes during times like this.

• Clear the way: Always keep the walkway leading up to your house clear and free of snow and ice.  Use salt to melt ice (not sand or dirt which looks unclean and tracks into the house) and make sure the walk to the house leaves a good first impression for potential buyers. Shovel down really high snow piles that might hide your house from the road.  You can only do so much, but try to keep your home visible. Keep the driveway well plowed and the mailbox cleared out.
• Make it festive and pretty: Decorate to play up the charm of your house.  Something simple, not too extravagant like a seasonal wreath for Valentines Day or a Shamrock for March’s St. Patrick’s Day.  Avoid window decorations or cardboard heart or shamrock cutouts.  Keep it classy and simple.
• Think warm and cozy: When buyers walk into a room with a cozy fire, hot apple cider, and warm cookies waiting for them you’ve set the right tone for the showing. Even if you can’t do all of this, you can still convey warmth throughout your home.  A cinnamon scented candle lit and placed safely on the counter top or the kitchen stove (where you can leave it and not worry about it causing a fire before you return home) sets a mood and provides a warm fragrance for the home.
• Light up the house: Winter can feel dark and gray. This is when bright-lit rooms become essential.  During the spring or summer, you can open the blinds and show off a nice yard. Winter may not always lend itself well to views. You’ll need to play up the lighting inside – add lamps if you need to.
• Breathe good air: Make sure to change your air filters and maybe add humidifiers if your home is very dry from your heating system.  You don’t want buyers coming in and find the home “stuffy” and hard to breath in.
• Dig out that lawn sign: Though it may be buried in a couple feet of snow your for sale sign is your beacon to help spread the word that your house is on the market and it lets buyers find you as they drive by. Keep your sign in the yard and shovel out around it so it can be seen driving buy the property.

photo courtesy of brettneilson