Thanksgiving is almost here, which is often a tipping point for sellers looking to move their homes. Because of the seasonality of our market, the period from Thanksgiving until early January can be a real dead spot, and listings that don’t offer superior value or breathtaking condition can be highly challenged.
Take heart – I am not afraid to market listings during the holidays! Although your showing count will almost certainly go down, sellers need to realize that buyers out in November and December (especially on cold days) are often far more motivated that many of the recreational summer shoppers who tour homes during busier times.
But because the stakes are higher with fewer showings, sellers need to be certain their homes are in absolute tip-top condition. Here are a few seasonal hints that can make your house feel like a home:
1) Brighten things up – with shorter days and less natural light, higher wattage bulbs can be a valuable selling tool. Light and warmth are hot buttons for buyers, so focusing on extra light is a smart staging strategy.
2) Flowers – nothing says you care like flowers. That may be the case in relationships, but it also applies to homes. Flowers convey a sense of care and commitment that can make a difference with buyers, and they’ll add some extra life to any space on those colder, darker winter days. Add some color to your kitchen, bathrooms or master bedroom with some fresh cut flowers.
3) Decorative lighting – be careful with this one, because you can overdo it. But good illumination, both inside and out, can add character and drama to your home. Consider using low voltage lights to highlight branches of an outdoor specimen tree, a front door, or a walkway. Consider backlighting a ornamental tree inside your home, or using a few decorative lights around a banister or railing.
4) Frame a local scene – artwork can have a great impression, especially with buyers from out of town. Look for local scenes, or mountain vistas with a Colorado flavor. Add a picture or two to your bathrooms or place one of John Fielder’s terrific Colorado photo books on your coffee table.
5) Entice them at the entrance – buyers always place extra emphasis on the front door. This is often where they draw their first impressions while waiting for their agent to open the lockbox and pull the house key. Keep this area extra clean (no cobwebs!), paint doors and trim and if your storm door is older, consider upgrading. If the front door doesn’t open and close cleanly, buyers will immediately start looking for other signs of deferred maintenance, and that will cost you in dollars and cents when you finally see an offer.
Selling in the fall and winter months is not impossible, but it does require more preparation. By listing your home when there is far less competition, you’ll have an advantage that could yield a better price and a less stressful experience.
