If you're selling your home this winter, your real estate agent has probably already talked to you about home staging. But is there anything special you can do during winter to make your home more appealing to prospective buyers? Absolutely! This guide explains.
9 Tips to Help You Stage Your Home During Winter
Check out these nine tips to help you stage your home to sell - and make it irresistible to buyers - this winter:
- Clean everything
- Declutter thoroughly
- Emphasize large spaces
- Create a cozy look in every room
- Let in as much light as possible (and supplement with artificial lighting)
- Keep your entryway clean
- Turn up the thermostat
- Showcase your home's entertaining spaces
- Bring in colorful live plants (and take good care of them
Here's a closer look at each.
Winter Home Staging Tip #1: Clean Everything
Just like during any other time of the year, it's incredibly important that your home is spotlessly clean while it's on the market. You can't stage your home to sell if it isn't clean. For some people, the best course of action is to hire a professional cleaning company to perform a deep cleaning service one time. However, if that's not in the cards for you, that's okay; it just means that you'll need to dedicate a little extra time (and elbow grease) to cleaning. The main idea with cleaning your home is to show buyers that it's a space that's incredibly easy to maintain, even if it's a lot of work for you right now. Remember, when you sell a home, you're doing more than selling the walls, the floors and the ceilings; you're selling a lifestyle.
Related: 5 things every seller needs to do before listing a home
Winter Home Staging Tip #2: Declutter Thoroughly
No matter the time of year, it's important to declutter every room in your home when you're trying to sell. However, during winter, it's especially important that you make sure there are no extra pieces of clothing or shoes lying around. This is because prospective buyers won't have the chance to see how your home looks like in the warmer months when it's not weighed down by winter gear.
Winter Home Staging Tip #3: Emphasize Large Spaces
When staging your home during winter, focus on emphasizing the larger spaces - such as living rooms and family rooms - since they're likely to be the most used spaces during the colder months. Place cozy furniture around these areas and add winter-appropriate decorations to help buyers envision how they can use the space when it's chilly outside.
Winter Home Staging Tip #4: Create a Cozy Look in Every Room
Creating a warm, inviting atmosphere is key when staging your home in winter. Add thick blankets, warm colors, and cozy lighting to create a sense of comfort. Place winter decorations around the space to help buyers imagine how they can make the most of their home during the cold months.
Winter Home Staging Tip #5: Let in as Much Light as Possible (and Supplement with Artificial Lighting)
Since natural light is at a premium during winter, it's important that you open up all the blinds and pull back all the drapes to let in as much as possible. It's also very important to supplement natural lighting with artificial lighting. Before you leave your home for a showing, run through each room and turn on all the lights. Though your electricity bill may go up, the fact that buyers can see every corner of your home can help you sell it faster and for more money.
Related: Staging an outdoor living space to impress buyers
Winter Home Staging Tip #6: Keep Your Entryway Clean
Your entryway is the first impression prospective buyers will have of your home, so make sure it's spotless. Make sure to clean up any mud and slush from winter boots and put away any bags or coats that may be lying around. As with every other time of year, ensure that your entryway is properly staged and that there's no clutter present.
Winter Home Staging Tip #7: Turn Up the Thermostat
You want prospective buyers to feel comfortable and cozy inside your home, and part of giving them that feeling is turning up the thermostat - even if you keep it pretty low yourself. Think about it this way: When it's cold outside, aren't you relieved to walk into a nice, toasty space? Prospective buyers feel the same way; if they're busy thinking about how they'll never warm up, they're not going to devote their attention to your home. However, if they feel comfortable and warm when they enter your home, that creates a favorable first impression.
Winter Home Staging Tip #8: Showcase Your Home's Entertaining Spaces
In winter, people often find themselves stuck indoors and looking for ways to entertain themselves. Show prospective buyers how they can make the most of their home by staging it in such a way that emphasizes your home's entertaining spaces (e.g. game room, family room).
Related: How to price your home for maximum profit
Winter Home Staging Tip #9: Bring in Colorful Live Plants (and Take Good Care of Them)
Plants can add a pop of color to any room and make it look more inviting. Plus, they help to filter the air and create an overall healthier environment. There are plenty of great plants you can use indoors - and the best part is that if you care for them properly, you can take them with you to your new home when you move.
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