Tips for selling a house

A lot of people don't realize that the tips for selling a house are different depending on the season. Listed below are tips for selling your house in the winter, and the spring. Both will help you to show your home's features to the fullest extent sell your home quickly and will make the experience a rewarding one for both you and your potential buyers.

Tips for selling your house in the winter and spring

1. Make your home appealing from the moment they pull up to the house

Winter - There is nothing worse than having a potential home buyer slip and fall on the ice on your walkway. Make certain that the sidewalks and driveway are both clear and that you have put sand down so that your visitors don't have to worry about slipping and falling. If the snow is still falling, make certain that someone continually cleans it. This will show potential buyers that you care about your home and about their safety. If people are parking their cars on the street, open a pathway on the grass so that there isn't a need to step over large mounds of snow created by snow plows.

Spring - Make certain that your spring yard work is done. The pathways should be free of leaves, clutter, and anything else that might be left over from fall. Look at the front of the house critically. Does the lawn need mowing? Are there any dead branches on trees? It's also a good idea to plant some yellow flowers outside. After the dull colors of winter, people love to see bright spring flowers.

2. Brighten up your home

Winter - Winter can be such a dreary time of year, and often homeowners keep the drapes and blinds closed to keep the heat in. The last thing that you want to do is to give your potential buyers the impression that your home is a dark, dreary place. Open the blinds, shutters and drapes and let that beautiful winter sun come in.

If you are showing your house in the evening hours, put the lights on in your home, especially those in the closets. One thing that buyers look for is a lot of closet space.

Spring - Now is a good time to open the windows and let the fresh air in. If you live in a cold region, chances are that your house has been closed up all winter. Make certain that the windows sparkle, and again try to look at your house the way a stranger would.

4. Keep your house comfortable

Winter - When you are showing a house, it's not the time to worry about the heating bill. Remember, the front door will be open and closing constantly, and that will let in cold drafts. A warm cozy house may encourage potential buyers to stay longer and the longer they stay the more they look at the house. If you have a fireplace, feel free to light it but make sure that you put a grate in front of it and open the damper. Remember to keep an eye on it. The
last thing that you want is a house fire.

Spring - If the day is warm, consider turning on ceiling fans or putting a small fan onto keep the house breezy and comfortable. Make certain that the fans are out of the way and not obstructing the view of anything that people would want to see. You also don't want any accidents with someone getting injured.


4. Make your home appealing to everyone

When someone is selling a house, usually they are doing everything they can to make it appeal to adults. They might put out champagne glasses and a bottle, or they might make the bathroom look really nice with fancy soaps and lotions, but something that most people forget when they are showing a home is that sometimes people bring their children to look at the house as well.

Most rooms have something that people refer to as the rumpus room, a room that is comfortable and a fun room to be in. It's not a bad idea to have an assortment of toys and games available for any children who come with their parents to see the house. After all, if their kids are bored there is a better chance that they will leave sooner.

5. Set a mood in your home

Winter - It's wintertime, so you want to make your home cozy, warm and inviting. Put afghans over your couch, put some CDs in your stereo - jazz or classical music is best, and set it so that the music is constantly playing.

Spring - Fresh cut flowers in various places make a home look inviting. Don't choose anything that has too harsh a smell, but rather go for something that has a light scent or no scent at all. The last thing that you want to do is to make potential buyers sneeze.

Don't use a lot of harsh room deodorizers or sprays. If you want a fragrance in your home, pick something that is light but seasonal and use your stove to simmer potpourri. If the scent is something that will make people hungry, like cinnamon, offer a small snack.

6. Serve refreshments

Winter - Nothing is better on a cold day than the welcoming aroma of coffee or chili. Don't be afraid to serve your guests refreshments. After all you want them to know that you appreciate them coming to see your house, and it sets a good first impression.

Spring - When the warmer weather comes, chilled bottles of water with your information on them are always a nice touch. You can also bake cookies and wrap them individually, also tagging them with your information.

One thing to remember about selling a house is to pretend that you are a stranger coming into your house and thinking about buying it. It's always a good idea to anticipate the questions that people have and answer them before they ask them