Special offer

Marketing your home in the Winter: December 2011 Challenge

By
Real Estate Agent with Bozeman Montana Real Estate .net

Winter Sales Tips

Need to sell your home during the winter months?  Don’t despair.  I know there are many real estate agents that suggest giving a listing some rest during the short winter days, but here’s what it could mean for your listing:

    
    If staged right on the outside, it can stand out amongst other homes that look drab and dreary

     There are fewer homes on the market to compete with yours (all the others just took a break)

           Buyers who trudge out to look at home during the winter are usually serious buyers, it isn’t a past time like it can be during the summer. 


If you are considering listing through the winter, here are some tips to help make yours stand out!
 
  

Make sure your photos show the winter months, they might highlight your garden during the summer, but your photos need to reflect the correct time of year.


Turn all your lights on for showings, it is darker out earlier, and usually a bit drab, don’t use energy efficient bulbs (for just a little while here), brighten up your home with all them lamps you can muster, and make sure the darkened
             closets have their lights on as well.

Always leave your front outside lights on.  Even if you don’t have a showing, there are plenty of folks who drive by, put your best foot forward, always.  See my home selling tips for adding splashes of color to the outside as well!

Provide a chair or bench by the front door to remove their shoes or put on booties so it is easy to preview your home even if the weather outside might promote tracking inside.

The smells of your home are much more prominent in the winter months since things are closed up.  Be aware of this and clean more often.  Boiling a pot of water with vanilla and cinnamon is a great way to make your home warm and
             inviting.

Clear off all the walks and steps, including decks!  People do want to see the outside as well, it is hard to access if you have 2 feet of snow piled against your patio door. 

If you live in a condo, make sure the common areas remain clean.  If your HOA is not keeping up with what is being tracked in, you may have to get the vacuum or broom out yourself to present an attractive approach to your home.

 

Luxury Big Sky homes for sale

 

Put your best foot forward!  Know that there are fewer homes to look at and make your shine, and that winter homes, if displayed correctly, can be magnificent!   If you have a Bozeman Home you would like to sell, please call, email or text.  We would love to meet with you to discuss our special marketing plans for your home!

S Blue
Amo, CO

Great post!

Dec 13, 2011 03:56 AM
Joy Daniels
Joy Daniels Real Estate Group, Ltd. - Harrisburg, PA

I love the list and am going to create an email to my winter clients now using your post.

thanks!

Dec 13, 2011 04:54 AM
Jenifer Lower
Bozeman Montana Real Estate .net - Bozeman, MT
Your Dream. Our Passion.

You guys are so awesome!  What an honor to have an article this well received by the pros.  I haven't ever had to respond to so many comments, but here goes:

Cheryl, thank you so much for the reblog!  And what a great intro for it, we live in snowy ski country, so beautiful chalets like this one are common and expected, but still remain beautiful in my eyes.

Micheal, I ski and play outdoors, so the winter months are just as beautiful as the summer months, it is just and attitude that needs to carry over into my business as well!

Charlie, you know the drill :).

Dec 13, 2011 04:59 AM
Jenifer Lower
Bozeman Montana Real Estate .net - Bozeman, MT
Your Dream. Our Passion.

The Christian Team, nothing worse than trying to balance while taking off your shoes!  Very bad start.

Barabara, I could not agree with you more, buyers are so disappointed to preview a home that has not been depicted accurately in photos.

msWoods, There are alot of agents that hadn't thought of that here as well, MLS is a prime indicator that it never even crossed their minds :).

Dec 13, 2011 05:07 AM
Jenifer Lower
Bozeman Montana Real Estate .net - Bozeman, MT
Your Dream. Our Passion.

Dave, why wait for the competition?  Get er done!

Kerry, thank you for the reblog, it really makes the home stand out on the block and attracts attention.

Sheryll, your welcome.

Sue, thank you thank you!  Very excited about it.  Smells are one of the most important things, almost very first to stand out in a buyers mind,

Dec 13, 2011 05:09 AM
Jenifer Lower
Bozeman Montana Real Estate .net - Bozeman, MT
Your Dream. Our Passion.

Tammy, I appreciate your opinion, but if the interior lights are coming and going, I dont' think the exterior lights are an indication that no one is home.

Sandy, yes, I do really show property in the snow.  If I didn't, I would have to take at leat 6 months off, and I'm not sure my budget would allow for it.  I have a great car, and fantastic boots :).

Shunta, thanks.

Joy, love that your sharing it, may it bring you tons of success!

Phew, this has been lots of fun...

Dec 13, 2011 05:11 AM
Morgan Evans
Douglas Elliman Real Estate - Manhattan, NY
LICENSED REAL ESTATE SALESPERSON

Definitely a very helpful list of items to keep in mind for this time of year.  I do agree that buyer's out looking right now do make decisions, so it's always important to keep a home in showing condition.

Dec 13, 2011 05:19 AM
Jenifer Lower
Bozeman Montana Real Estate .net - Bozeman, MT
Your Dream. Our Passion.

Morgan, I know alot of folks who let their homes slide for the holidays.  Never a great idea!

Dec 13, 2011 05:23 AM
Jon Quist
REALTY EXECUTIVES ARIZONA TERRITORY - Tucson, AZ
Tucson's BUYERS ONLY Realtor since 1996

I like your comment/suggestion of updated photos in an area that actually has winter. And, boy, does that apply to Montana. We have a number of owners who escape from Montana and live here during the winter. So, of course, we love Montana folk!

Dec 13, 2011 06:38 AM
Jenifer Lower
Bozeman Montana Real Estate .net - Bozeman, MT
Your Dream. Our Passion.

Jon, My mother in law is one of those folks that escapes our winter to your sunshine!  We like that some of you own second homes here as well!

Dec 13, 2011 06:52 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

The snow and ice does make showing a home difficult, but there are always buyers out there and if the home needs to be sold, it should get all the assistance possible. Good Post.

Dec 13, 2011 08:43 AM
Jenifer Lower
Bozeman Montana Real Estate .net - Bozeman, MT
Your Dream. Our Passion.

Ed, thanks for the compliment!  Folks buy all year long.

Dec 13, 2011 08:56 AM
Rob Kittle
Kittle Real Estate - Fort Collins, CO
"We Specialize, You Benefit!" -Kittle Real Estate

Great tips Jen, winter season is sometimes a slow season in real estate but you are right we should encourage our clients to have their homes listed during this season and make their home stand out for a more quick selling time.

Dec 13, 2011 10:04 AM
Eric Michael
Remerica Integrity, Realtors®, Northville, MI - Livonia, MI
Metro Detroit Real Estate Professional 734.564.1519

Jenifer. This is a great list. Providing a chair (#4) is a great idea.                                                   

Dec 13, 2011 01:12 PM
Maureen McCabe
HER Realtors - Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Real Estate

Great list.  I hate snow as far as real estate goes!  I love your photo of the home in the snow, though.  I am one of your Re-Bloggers, great info for consumers.  Thanks.

Dec 13, 2011 11:49 PM
Joni Bailey
101 Main St. Realty - Huntsville, TX
Your Huntsville / Lake Livingston Area REALTOR®
These are excellent tips. I am bookmarking to re-blog!!! Thanks!!
Dec 14, 2011 12:15 AM
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

Jenifer congratulations on the feature. This is the best list I have ever seen of why you can and should sell your house during the winter months. Have a great day

Dec 14, 2011 12:49 AM
Jenifer Lower
Bozeman Montana Real Estate .net - Bozeman, MT
Your Dream. Our Passion.

Rob, it is only a slow season if you think it is!  I am as busy as I have been anytime during the year, and my listings are getting shown!  New attitude man. :)

Eric, again, I hate the balancing act, was never very good at it.

Maureen, thanks for the reblog, you should learn to love to do things in the snow and then it wouldn't look so cold.

Joni, glad you could use them, thank you for rebloggin.

Scott!!  Thank you thank you, first feature in 533 posts, phew, didn't think I was ever gonna get here.  So glad you dropped by, and Merry Christmas.

Dec 14, 2011 03:57 AM
Maureen McCabe
HER Realtors - Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Real Estate

Jennifer I grew up in Wisconsin, we got useful snow there and it was great to play in.  Some years we get enough snow to cross country ski here, other years not so much, but my skis were stolen. 

The snow is more of a nuisance as far as real estate goes.  Our local real estate season takes off quicker if we don't have a lot of snow, but if a house is ready to sell it can be a great time to sell.  Some years our snow comes and goes and everything is really prettier with a layer of white over it all.  Thanks again for allowing the Re-Blog.

Dec 14, 2011 05:22 AM
Jenifer Lower
Bozeman Montana Real Estate .net - Bozeman, MT
Your Dream. Our Passion.

Maureen, then you totally get the snow thing!  We have ski resorts, so when there is more snow, more visitors, busier season.  We are kind of special that way :)

Dec 14, 2011 07:11 AM