Keep your house showing-ready with tasteful seasonal decorations, proper lighting, and pre-determined marketing strategies. Our experienced team of New Orleans Realtors can help you take advantage of selling during a slower season.
The wintertime selling market is unique. Here’s how to capitalize on its seasonal appeal.
Are you thinking of putting your house on the market this month? If so, there are specific things to keep in mind as you prepare. February is still considered the off-season, while the spring market (April through June) is when buying and selling houses reach their heights. Selling in the winter comes with its own set of benefits, and there are steps you can take to make the most of the season. Here are some winter-specific tips for preparing your home for sale.
Prepare to Market in Advance
Take pictures of your house well in advance. The house will look better on a sunny day in the spring, surrounded by lush trees, then with the dead grass in January. However, only using dated pictures could indicate that your listing is old. Any house looks great with a few string lights or pumpkins on the porch, but displaying the pictures showing the house in other seasons adds another level of detail to your listing.
Create a video tour to share with buyers relocating from afar, and in case inclement weather disrupts your showing schedule. There may be less foot traffic in the winter, but motivated buyers are always looking online.
Curb Appeal Matters in All Seasons
Make sure your lawn is mowed and decluttered. Placing some bright seasonal plants by the entrance and adding landscape lighting could make the home more inviting too. Clean up the porch, clean the gutters, caulk the windows, and fix the steps if necessary.
Show Your House in the Best Light
With fewer daylight hours, either don’t show your home after dark or add more indoor lamps and landscape lighting. Placing spotlights, pulling up the blinds, and opening drapes and shutters could also help brighten the interior. Use the available natural light as much as possible and add whatever additional lights are necessary to showcase your house and create a positive emotional experience. To save money, consider adding lamps on a timer or recessed lights, using them sparingly to add to the ambiance and visual display.
Crank Up the Heat
Make sure your heating system is working as you may need to use it during showings. Cold snaps don’t occur in Louisiana often, but you’ll want the buyer to be comfortable enough to stay if you’re showing on a cold day. 68 degrees or higher is optimal.
Use the Holidays in Home Staging
The holiday selling season is unique and has ample opportunity to play up the festive feel, so take advantage of the emotional and visual aspects that the holidays and Carnival bring to the table. A few ideas include:
- Highlight the features showing that your home is cozy and well-equipped to entertain: a spacious dining room, a working fireplace, a finished basement (though the latter is pretty rare in New Orleans).
- Decorate your house but avoid clutter, over-the-top decorations, or overly religious setups. Installing a six-foot inflatable nativity scene on your front lawn may not work in your favor, but a well-placed wreath or Mardi Gras garland could lift anyone’s holiday spirit.
- Play some seasonal favorites in the background.
- Offer seasonal treats like homemade cookies or King Cake.
- Ease up on the scents (perfume, spray, plug-in fresheners, scented candles) — you never know what the buyer may be allergic to or what scent they might hate.
Finally, consider hiring a New Orleans real estate agent who understands the seasonal peculiarities and fluctuations and will help you take full advantage of selling your house in the winter months.