6 Insider Tricks For Eye-Catching Winter Curb Appeal

Some home sellers feel that there’s little point in maintaining great curb appeal in the winter because they think that buyers don’t come out in bad weather.

Well, there are definitely fewer buyers than at other times of the year, that’s for sure. But those buyers who do come out are committed and more likely to buy. So, winter has weeded out the “looky-loos” for you!

Therefore, you want to make your home as appealing as possible even when there’s six inches of snow on the ground. Here are some practical guidelines for doing just that.

(yes, these are a LOT of hyperlinks - but they will take you to useful places around the web where you can learn more about the specific guideline that I recommend)
 
Guideline 1

Update the front-door lighting; bright and cheerful lighting is always welcome on a winter’s day. Plus, it can really frame the entrance in an appealing way.

(http://www.dulley.com/llightout.shtml)

Guideline 2

Think about putting colorful urns or planters on either side of the front door. Evergreens, holly or poinsettias in the planters will provide a wonderful appearance and smell!

(http://www.statue.com/garden-vases.html)

Guideline 3

If your welcome mat is old, frayed or worn out, replace it to avoid the appearance that you don’t keep up the maintenance of the house.

(http://tinyurl.com/CoolOutdoorMats)

Guideline 4

If your address numbers are hard to read, replace them with larger ones. Remember, in winter it gets dark earlier, and you don’t want to make it a chore for potential buyers to find you.

(http://www.customhousenumbers.com/)

Guideline 5

Definitely make sure the sidewalks, driveways, etc. are free of snow and ice! This is not only a “curb appeal” issue, but one of safety. The last thing you want is for potential buyers to end up on their backs and possibly injured!

(Tips for Snow and Ice Removal)

Guideline 6

Everybody loves holiday decorations – except when they’re grossly overdone. You want the attention of buyers to focus on your home, not any yard displays. So, by all means, put up decorations, but make sure they don’t overpower your home.

(http://www.holidaybrightlights.com/)

So, there you have six guidelines for maintaining curb appeal in the winter! If you’d like more advice on selling your home during this season (or any other time of the year), contact me today at sclark@deebrealestate.com or 402.305.4335! Hey, maybe you’ll have some good suggestions for me as well!

Want to Sell Your Home Faster? Put It On “Stage!”

Basically, home staging is the art making the interior of your home look as appealing as possible so that when potential buyers enter, they say to themselves, “Wow, this really looks nice! It looks like it’s worth the price.”

There are two ways to do home staging. If you have an eye for interior design, you can do it yourself. If you don’t (or don’t have the time), then you can hire a professional home stager.

Think of pro home stagers as being like set designers for a play. They know how to “set the stage” in precisely the right way to impress any potential buyer visiting your home.

In general, when a home stager comes into your home, he or she will eliminate any clutter, arrange furniture, and help you enhance interior (or exterior) appeal in every way possible.

The charges may be on an hourly basis or a flat fee.

For information on home staging professionals, google “Home Staging Professionals” to see who’s available in your area. Or, check out these sources on the Internet:

STAGEDHOMES.COM and The Real Estate Staging Association

Now, what if you want to stage your home through your own efforts? Well, I have some tips for you.

Unfortunately, I don’t have enough space in this article to cover every room in the house, so I’ll talk about one of the first spaces potential buyers see – the living room.

Staging the Living Room

Arrange the room in a manner that makes it feel spacious and open. If it’s cluttered and hard to walk through, remove furniture or other items and put them in storage.

And speaking of furniture, if it’s old or worn, consider renting furniture to temporarily replace it. At the least, buy slip covers to hide any items that are slightly worn.

Also, put away any family portraits or personal items. You want buyers to feel like they could live in this space immediately.

A new coat of paint never hurts. Be sure to choose a warm, somewhat neutral color. Think softer shades of blue, brown, green, or the ever-popular beige.

If you have a fireplace in the room, definitely make it the “star of the show.” Fireplaces conjure up images of warm, cozy times with the family gathered around for a nice evening. To emphasize this image, arrange the furniture so it faces the fireplace.

You’ll know you’ve achieved your home staging goal when people just naturally want to sit down and spend time in your living room!

Now, I know you’ll want more tips on how to stage the rest of your home, and I’d be happy to discuss them with you. To learn about those tips, contact me today at 402.305.4335 or at sclark@deebrealestate.com, and we’ll have a great chat about how to arrange your interior for maximum effect upon potential buyers!