Looking to buy or sell your home this fall or winter? Bryan Lincoln Real Estate has you covered. Reach out today and let’s team up! 916.469.9540

There’s no wrong time to put your home on the market. Sure, spring and summer tend to be the seasons when most people are selling their homes, but homebuyers don’t go into hibernation. Navigating the fall leaves, winter’s chill and the holidays might make the process slightly more complicated, of course, but there is absolutely no reason why you should wait until the temperatures rise to list your home. If you’re thinking about listing, the following tips can help you get the sale so you can enjoy spring and summer in your new home.

Why List Now

Selling during the fall and winter offers its advantages, according to Realtor.com, one of them being that buyers are just as serious as you are. If they’re venturing out to showings and open houses despite the busyness of this time of year, you can guarantee they’re a potential buyer and not someone just toying with the idea. There might not be as many of them, but on the flip side, this means you have less competition too.

You’ll want to make sure to do some research on your home to see what it’s worth, and an online home value estimator makes it easy. You’ll get an estimate in addition to other important details such as price per square foot, a description of the home, as well as the sale and value history. However, don’t think that you have to price your home lower since you’re selling in the “offseason.”

Use Fall Colors to Your Advantage

One of the great things about fall is that it provides such an inviting color palette. Use this to your advantage by using fall accents such as decorative bowls filled with berries and pumpkins or warm color accents via pillows, flowers, vases, and artwork. Make these accents stand out even more by applying a tasteful, neutral, matte wallpaper. Use fall scents like cinnamon or the well-loved pumpkin spice, and create a cozy feeling with candles or lighting your fireplace.

It starts to get darker earlier this time of year, so lighting is important. Lamps are your friends, whether they are table lamps, floor lamps, or mounted lamps. They give a soft glow without being too harsh. Add some outdoor lighting as well to accommodate those later showings too. Speaking of outdoors, the leaves on the trees are showing off this time of year as well, but piles of leaves and gutters about to burst aren’t attractive, so stay on top of yard maintenance.

Make It Warm and Inviting During the Winter

The holidays are often a time when we decorate our homes, but if you’re putting your home up for sale, you’ll want to go easy on the holiday décor. Instead of creating the brightest home in the neighborhood, stick with something a little simpler such as window wreaths, small electric candles in the windows, or simple white lights strung along the porch railing.

Once the holidays come and go, you might be left with a dreary exterior, so HGTV advises enhancing it with curb appeal. Keep the yard clear of leaves and debris and the driveway shoveled. Consider a fresh coat of paint on the front door and exterior, in addition to some cold weather plants such as evergreen, pansies, or witch hazel to add some color. Create a cozy, inviting outside relaxation space by adding a pergola or patio cover. 

You need to keep things looking cozy on the inside too, so this means keeping it warm, moving furniture a little closer together into “conversation areas,” and adding warm colors and textures. As a “thank you” for those venturing out in the cold, provide hot cocoa or coffee during showings and open houses.

Plan Ahead for Stress

As you move through this process, know that selling a house is stressful at any time of the year. The holidays and the extra preparations you’ll need to do to your home as a result of the season will likely add to this. So, prepare by having some stress coping strategies at the ready — get exercise and eat healthy, find ways to laugh, surround yourself with positive people, and get some sun when you can.

There’s no need to wait until the spring to list your home. In fact, listing now means more serious offers and less competition for you. So, bundle up and take the plunge!

Photo by Unsplash