Selling Fort McMurray real estate during the winter months can be trying: the weather is cold and gloomy, daylight hours are in short supply, and there are less buyers looking. It’s important to remember, however, that even though you may have less showings when selling your home in the winter months, house hunters who are keen enough to brave the cold tend to be serious buyers.

Curb appeal and staging your Fort McMurray home for a showing is never more important than it during the winter. Getting the easily-forgotten details right can make the difference between a sale and another week of waiting in the slower winter market.

6 Tips for Showing Your Home During the Winter

Shovel the snow and scrape the ice

Access is important, and the worst first impression is a driveway or sidewalk that’s still covered with snow: a snow-free walk and drive gives the impression lots of prospective buyers have been looking. Watch for icy spots and make sure to keep slick areas regularly salted or sanded. Ensure decks and pathways to sheds or garages are shovelled, and keep a path cleared from the street to the walk through any piles left by snow plows.

Take the Christmas decorations down early

Don’t keep your lights and Christmas decor up for long after the holidays have passed. If you usually keep your lights up but off all year round, take them down this year. You’re selling anyway, so consider it a jump-start on packing! We do encourage clients to keep up any winter-themed decorations they have such as welcoming winter door wreaths or table centrepieces. Think seasonal touches rather than holiday ones.

Mind the wet boots and jackets

Remember every agent and buyer that comes into your home will have thick winter jackets and snow-covered boots. Provide a convenient place to remove wet footwear and hang coats immediately when buyers enter your home: additional thoughtful touches include slippers, a basket for scarves and gloves, and a chair or bench to sit on when taking off or putting on boots. Buyers will appreciate you protecting the floor of their prospective investment.

Keep your home warm

Make sure your home is warm when you know your agent is scheduling showings. In particular be mindful of the temperature of your floors: cold hardwood or tiles on the feet is an immediate turn off. If you’re leaving town for the weekend while your agent is showing your home, make sure to keep the thermostat up: buyers who aren’t comfortable won’t stay long. Keeping the temperature low might mean savings on your utility bill but will affect your final selling price.

Pay attention to the light

Encourage showings during daylight hours and keep your blinds and curtains open to showcase your home in natural light. Make sure your windows are spotlessly clean: the angles of winter sunlight highlight grim on glass. If you’re showing at night turn on every light so agents and buyers aren’t spending time looking for switches, and clean lamps and fixtures to make sure everything looks its best. Set up timers to turn outdoor and select indoor lights on when you aren’t home for prospective buyers doing drive-bys in the evening.

Think cozy

Create an inviting and cozy atmosphere and make your home a retreat from the cold weather. Turn on gas fireplaces and place warm throw-blankets on couches or chairs. Provide warm cocoa or fresh brewed coffee and tea. If you enjoy baking the aroma of cookies complete with a plate of fresh baking to snack on can endear you to potential buyers and make your home a welcome haven from the sub-zero temperatures.

Many real estate agents will discourage you from trying to sell your home during the Christmas holidays, but if you’re committed to having your home on the market there are some advantages to the season. Buyers continuing to view homes through December and January tend to be more serious, usually driven by impending life changes or relocation requirements. Since most sellers take their homes off the market over the holidays, there are fewer homes and the competition is less fierce.

If you’re continuing to market and show Fort McMurray real estate over the holidays, here are some tips to help give you an edge at Christmas.

Price your home right
Making sure you have the optimal price is most important during the holidays. With less buyers on the market you’ll want an experienced agent specializing in Fort McMurray homes with the ability to analyze current trends and statistics to make sure your home is priced competitively.

Go easy on the decorations
When you’re selling your home there is such a thing as too much Christmas cheer. If you’re home typically bursts with decorations during the holidays, scale things back as much as possible. Choose a smaller tree and keep the seasonal decor to a strategic minimum.

Pick decorations with broad appeal
Remember not everyone celebrates the same way this time of year, and you want potential buyers to be able to envision their own holiday traditions in your space. Go for winter and nature-themed decorations such as garlands instead of items that are linked to specific religious holidays.

Keep your space clutter free
Instead of a pile of gifts spilling out from under a tree, consider keeping wrapped presents out of sight in a closet until Christmas Eve or stacked neatly and unobtrusively in a corner. Prospective buyers are trying to get a feel for the size and space in your home: the more items you have on display the more cramped and small the space will appear.

Curb appeal over the holidays
Make sure your home looks its absolute best from the outside. Bare trees means more of your home is exposed to the street, so exterior maintenance is key. Scale back the scope of your outdoor holiday decorations: a few strings of lights can make your home look great this time of year, but large inflatable lawn ornaments are a distraction. Also consider safety: make sure to keep the walks and driveways shovelled and ice-free.

Use seasonal ambiance to your advantage
Create a cozy and inviting atmosphere when showing your home over the holidays. Turn on the fireplace, play soft music, and create pleasing aromas with greenery, holiday baking or warm ciders. Set a plate of cookies out for buyers to enjoy while viewing your space.

Be as flexible as possible with show times
Keep your schedule open during the holidays and be extra flexible when it comes to showing your home: Christmas is a busy time of year for everyone, and both buyers and sellers are trying to work around holiday events. The more willing you are to accommodate the buyer’s schedule the more likely you’ll garner goodwill and a good offer.