During Autumn and Winter, it’s normal to see fewer Wilmington home buyers. The colder weather can be a drag on showings and many people choose to focus their energy on the holidays or managing their kids through the school year. However, this is also the time when we see the most serious buyers. So, it’s important make sure you’re presenting your home in the best way possible. Here are 5 tips to help you sell your home in the Autumn and Winter.
- Don’t overdo it on the decorations. The first thing Wilmington home stagers will tell you to do when preparing your home for sale is to de-clutter. Decorations often add clutter to a room. If you can, remove items that you already have on your shelves – vases, books, picture frames, candles, or art – and replace them with decorations. A vase filled with leaves can add a nice fall touch and replace a current possession.
A second tip that stagers will often tell you is to remove family pictures. They make it difficult for buyers to picture themselves in the home. Decorations can also have the same effect, especially when a family of one religion views a home decorated for another. While we would never ask you to change your holiday traditions, keep in mind that showings may be affected by that. So, try to make it up in another way, like putting a little extra effort into the other tips on this list and, as soon as the holiday is over, take those decorations down. It’s a big turn-off to see Christmas lights up in February.
- Trim back dead plants and rake the yard. It’s getting cold out, and plants are starting to go dormant leaving behind ugly brown leaves and stems. After the first wave of cold, wet weather, walk around your house and look at which plants are the most affected. These are the ones you’ll have to keep an eye on as the landscape around the home transitions. Trim off any dead leaves and hide away potted plants that have died back. Rake all the leaves off the lawn and remove dead limbs. If your budget allows, freshen up your beds and walkways with mums and pansies, both of which are cold hardy in the Wilmington area. Avoid using poinsettias outside, because they are poisonous to dogs and cats.
- Brighten up your rooms. Daylight hours are shorter at this time of year and rooms start to look a little gloomy. Before showings, turn on all the lights. Make sure the bulbs cast a warm glow (some of the energy saving ones look more blue than yellow). Clean all your windows inside and out, and, during the day, open all the shades to let in that extra light.
- Add a scent. Human beings often associate scents with locations and this time of year is great for taking advantage of that, because there are a lot of nice, warm scents on the market. The most popular ones are from baking – sugar cookie, apple pie, cinnamon, etc. We don’t recommend leaving a burning candle, but a wickless air freshener or spraying the house before you leave is sufficient.
- Don’t forget to mention you’re selling! With the holidays come holiday letters and many functions for school, work, and church. You never know who might be looking for a new house or know someone who is, like a neighbor who has children wanting to move to the community. So, don’t hesitate to mention it.
If you have any questions about selling your Wilmington area home, give us a call at 910.202.2546 or send us a message through our Contact page.
