5 ways to entice house buyers this winter

If you keep up to date with the property market you’ll know that as soon as winter hits the market generally fizzles out and goes quiet. We are told by ‘experts’ that winter is the worst time to sell a property and we should avoid it all costs.

This is simply not true.

The fact is people are looking for homes to buy throughout the year and if needs be, you can sell your house during the winter as well. Furthermore, because fewer people do sell during the winter means you have less competition to deal with.

That said, it still holds true that the property market does slow down during the winter as sellers prefer sell up during the summer, however, don’t completely rule out a sale post October especially if you are struggling and need to get rid of your home. You just need to be a little more realistic as you will get fewer viewings.

Below we’ve put together 5 awesome tips you can use to boost your properties appearance and entice house buyers into purchasing your property during the winter!

Light up your rooms

Lighting is definitely an issue during the winter. Even on the best of days it’s hard to get any natural light into the house because the drab British weather.

Firstly, check and then double check that all the lights are working within your house. You may want to add in an extra lamp or 2 to brighten up the darker areas of the house to make it look and feel more welcoming.

If possible, try to get the viewing done during the day while there is still some natural light coming in through the windows. A couple of things you can do to help increase the natural light include:

  • Cleaning the windows from the inside and out.
  • Opening your blinds or curtains fully.
  • Removing any decorations away from window sills that could obstruct the light from entering.

Make your home feel warm and cosy

People tend to spend most of their time indoors during the winter so if you can get your home to give off a real ‘cosiness’ vibe, a home buyer is sure to fall in love with it.

There are couple of ways you can do this. First off, you want the house feeling warm at all times to be sure to turn up the heating during the viewing. Secondly, add a few in pillows, cushions and even a rug to give your home that real cosy feeling. You can also add in a few family photos so your house feels more homely.

Lastly adding in a candle and a lamp or 2 can give your home that feel good cosy factor and make it a very pleasant viewing for any potential buyers.

Show some love to the exterior of your house

First impressions are important, even more so during the winter when the exterior of home will look less attractive.

Start with your garden furniture. Ensure everything is put away neatly. If you have shed give it a clean so it looks presentable.

You can then start sorting out the garden. A winter garden will never look as good a summer garden in full bloom but you can still make it look nice. Tidy up the lawn, cut short any large shrubbery and get rid of any dead leaves, debris and other items that don’t need to be there. Don’t forget to give the patio are a good clean if you have one.

Finally, give the outside of the windows a good scrubbing as grime is prevalent during the winter and you do not want a house buyer who could potentially bid on your house think it is not being looked after properly.

Make your rooms look bigger

This is all about home staging. You want to make your house feel like it’s bigger. A few techniques you can use to do this are:

  • Move furniture away from the walls to create the illusion of space.
  • Use hidden storage to put away old Christmas decorations & clutter.
  • Strategically add in a mirror or a feature painting to make the room feel more spacious.
  • Include furniture with legs.

Learn the art of hosting

Being a great host will make any home buyer feel at home instantly while viewing your property. As they arrive into your home offer them a warm drink. If they have asked for anything specific beforehand be sure to have that ready for them. By doing this a home will buyer subconsciously hold you and your home in a higher regard – a great way to start off a house viewing!

In general, you just need to be polite and honest with them about anything they ask during the viewing.

We’re positive by implementing some of the tips we’ve mentioned you will have a higher chance to sell your home during the winter!

Guest post by: Housebuyers4u