Over the years I have sold tens of properties. I’m a professional property developer (or flipper, as the young kids call it), and on the whole, I do a reasonable job.
Something that I always hear about is the difficulties of winter. I’ve had a lot of friends in the industry who struggle to sell homes during this time of the year, for various reasons:
- The days are shorter, so you can’t view property in its ‘full glory’.
- The elements, like snow, make it a nightmare for your property’s photography.
- Historic patterns suggest people just aren’t willing to buy. For example, last year, 250,000 homes fell off the market in the winter months.
Many of these friends often find willing buyers, but as competition is low, they never get the price they are looking for.
I don’t hold all of the answers, but today I will focus on some of the best tips that have worked for me during this period. You don’t have to be a property developer; this advice will apply to absolutely anyone who is seeking a quick, winter sale.
Firstly, let’s talk about snow. This can be one of your biggest enemies when it comes to a winter sale and unfortunately, in a lot of ways, there is little you can do about it.
I do have two pieces of advice that have served me well, though. My first is about photography. Whatever you do, don’t take photos of your property if it is covered in snow. You won’t receive any uptake whatsoever.
Then, if the elements are bordering on the brutal, make sure you have a good supply of salt. The last thing you want is someone taking the time to visit your property, only to be struggling to stay on their feet on the pathway up to it.
Something else I have found is the power of injecting color. Now is not the season where a garden is going to sell a property; it’s just not going to happen. It means you need to bring nature indoors.
One such way you can achieve this is by a company such as Avas Flowers. Try turning to Avas Flowers the day before viewing and showcasing their vases in the main rooms of the property (the living room and master bedroom are the obvious choices). These Avas Flowers photos should show the effect they have on a home when winter takes its hold!
I’m going to wrap things up by talking about natural light. Winter just doesn’t have enough of it, but you can do your part to make sure that you don’t shut out the final strands. Make sure that all curtains and blinds are open, while all doors in your house are also the same. If you have the chance, position some mirrors opposite windows as well – you need to tap into every trick in the book to take advantage of natural light.
