Don’t count out the possibilities of selling your Colorado Springs home during the winter months. Traditionally, there are fewer Colorado Springs homebuyers when it is cold outside. However, with fewer Colorado Springs real estate listings to choose from, your home may have a good chance of selling.
That said, your Colorado Springs real estate for sale needs to be warm and inviting when the seemingly random buyer wants to look at it. Remember, snowy weather or not, life’s events send buyers out for Colorado Springs homes at unexpected times. Maybe they land new jobs or get transferred, inheritance money comes through, or people marry or divorce. And there is the perception that real estate prices are lower during off season.
AP Personal Finance Writer Dave Carpenter of Chicago highly recommends thoughtful staging of the property for sale. Carpenter offers five tips for all winter home sellers: 1) Remember the Basics, 2) Think Warm and Cozy, 3) Neatly Shoveled Paths Make a Difference, 4) Good Lighting is Essential, and 5) Tasteful Holiday Decorations Can Help. We wholeheartedly agree and will share Carpenter’s ideas here.
Under the Basics, take care of necessary maintenance and repairs, thoroughly clean the home, and cart away the clutter. This includes the outside of the home. The other essential element is pricing. Price tags need to capture the attention of buyers. A reputable real estate agent can help research prices in your neighborhood. When the price is right, a home will sell during any time of the year.
Employ any staging techniques that make the house look big, bright, warm, and appealing. These features are especially important during the winter when the days are short and it’s freezing outside. Staging may involve painting, moving furniture, and getting help from a designer. Build a fire and turn up the thermostat to cozy up the place when buyers come. Advertise the home including some summertime photos in the ads and placed in the home.
Be sure that the sidewalks, walkways, and driveways are clear of ice and snow, not just when you are expecting guests but any time a potential buyer will be driving by. If the home looks abandoned, then buyers may shun the cold impression and keep on driving.
Carpenter says to “Fight the gloom” of winter by turning on all of the lights for visitors. Arrange showings during the brightest time of the day and open the blinds and drapes to allow natural light inside. Keep it well-lit outside during the night and inside while you are away. On the same note, inside and outside holiday decorations such as a big red bow on the sign, some greenery, and twinkling lights make the home inviting.
For information about buying a home in Colorado Springs, contact award-winning REMAX real estate agent Ann Heiring at (719) 440-1010 or Toll Free at (800) 246-8978. In appreciation for those who serve our nation, Ann offers special rebates for active and retired military.