Are you wanting to sell your home but are waiting until the weather warms up and the buyers come out? Here’s the thing: you can wait, but you don’t have to. Fall and winter are actually great times to sell a home. Not only is there less competition on the market (which means you can try your hand at a slightly higher price), but the buyers who make the trek to see your home in the cold weather typically turn out to be more serious about buying a home. 

So if you know you’re going to sell, consider putting your home on the market now. Here are a few tips that can help you get your home ready for a quick and satisfying sale this fall/winter:

Tidy up. 

One task that can help sell your home and make the entire preparation process go more smoothly is to declutter. This is where you go through all your belongings and decide what you will be taking with you to the new home. For anything that you’re not going to take with you, you will need to determine whether to give those items away, sell them, or trash/recycle them. Keep in mind that decluttering helps to make each space feel bigger and more organized, which will come into play when buyers see your home. 

For anything that you plan to take with you to the new home, consider putting it in self-storage. This is a relatively affordable solution for keeping unused items and boxes out of the way while your home is on the market. In Cave Creek, AZ, the overall average price of self-storage is currently $136.67 per unit, making it an affordable solution for homesellers. 

Improve the outside.

Equally important is ensuring your home has curb appeal. After all, it will literally be the first impression buyers have of your home. Make sure the lawn is mowed and the bushes trimmed. If you have any dead tree limbs that could fall on the house, get an arborist out to take care of them. 

Also, make sure the property is clear of fallen leaves and tree limbs, yard equipment, and other forms of clutter. And if you live in an area that gets snow or ice, Madison Mortgage Guys suggest making sure the driveway and walkways stay clear and safe. If it’s too much to take on along with everything else, Manta says most people in Cave Creek pay $208 for snow removal. 

If your house appears dirty, consider pressure-washing it to restore it to its former beauty. You can also boost curb appeal by making some minor changes, such as:

• Painting the front door 

• Updating the house numbers

• Updating the mailbox

• Adding a few festive decorations

• Planting winter-friendly plants/flowers

Improve the inside. 

You also want the inside of your home to look as good as possible (within your timeframe and budget). One of the most important things is that your walls are appealing, and a fresh coat of paint can do wonders. Consider going with neutral colors throughout the home, as they can appeal to a wide array of buyers and leave room for creative accents in decor. And if you have hardwood flooring, make sure they’re in good condition; if they look especially worn, it may be a worthwhile investment to have them refinished. 

When it comes to showing your home, you want to take advantage of the colder seasons and maximize warmth. Holiday decor can help to create an inviting atmosphere, but it’s important not to go overboard. Remember that you want to appeal to a variety of buyers, and getting too heavy-handed with the lights and animated figurines could turn some buyers away. 

The colder months can be an opportune time to sell your home. Remember to get the clutter out of your home to maximize the space, and make some practical improvements to your home’s exterior and interior. You may be surprised by how much difference a little work can make when it comes to getting your home off the market quickly!

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