Winter Home Showings: Creating a Cozy Atmosphere

Fall is a wonderful time to sell your home — the kids are in school, the air is crisp, fewer homes are for sale, and more importantly, the buyers who are looking right now are serious. If your home is on or soon-to-be on the market, consider the following tips to give buyers every reason to choose your home.

1. Open it up

Overgrown trees and shrubs can reduce indoor light and send the message that you’ve been too busy to care for your home’s exterior. While it may sound counter-intuitive, fall is actually a great time to prune shrubs (check online guides first).  Doing so can dramatically open up space around windows and walkways, providing better light inside and giving a crisp and manicured impression from the street. 

2. Light it up

Pumpkins and mums may be passé, but bright spots that highlight your home’s exterior features are still important. November and December’s early twilights are the perfect backdrop for festive string lights at the eaves, strung in trees or around the porch. Be sure to take down Halloween decor promptly so you don’t spook potential buyers before they even make it to the door!

3.  Welcome buyers in

As the season transitions from light jackets to coats and gloves, consider upping your entry area game to accommodate your guests. A coir or jute doormat and small rug or boot tray will corral wet footwear and save floors; a coat tree or a few wall hooks invite buyers to get comfortable and stay awhile. If you have room, add a bench or chair as a perch for putting shoes back on.

4. Keep it cozy

No matter where you set the thermostat, bare floors can be chilly, especially on lower levels. Provide a basket of disposable booties during showings to ward off cold feet, and keep temps pleasantly warm throughout (around 72 degrees is just right). If you have heated floors in baths or other areas, be sure to keep them turned on; this little luxury makes a big impression!

5. Engage the senses 

Warm holiday scents can be lovely and evocative, but be sure to keep them subtle. Many people are sensitive to smells and too much of a good thing can leave them wondering what you’re trying to cover up. Natural scents are best, and the time-honored trick of baking a few cookies prior to showings and leaving a plate out for guests to enjoy is always welcome. You could also simmer a pot of cider, cinnamon and cloves for an hour or so ahead of time, removing from the stove just before you leave. 

6. Entertaining thoughts

The holiday season is in the offing, and with it come thoughts of hosting family and friends, making now the perfect time to showcase your home’s entertaining assets. Set the dining room table, create inviting seating arrangements around the fireplace or TV and place a well-stocked bar cart nearby. Cheers to an offer coming your way soon!

Written by Susan Bonne