4 useful tips for Open Houses during the Winter

Regardless of the season, preparing for an open house can be a stressful event. However, of all the seasons, winter seems to be the most difficult for hosting open houses. When the temperature starts to drop, people tend to stay indoors. This can make it difficult to attract people to your open house. Despite this, homes are 9% more likely to sell in the winter and have the potential to sell 1 week faster. To take advantage of this, there are a number of useful tips that a homeowner can utilize to make their winter open houses a success.

Shovel Your Driveway

Those that have a driveway should definitely consider shoveling any snow off of it before visitors arrive. One of the last things a guest wants to deal with at an open house is getting stuck in the driveway. Although it may take some time, shoveling the driveway is simply common courtesy when inviting people into your home. While you’re at it, be sure to give your driveway, walkways or porch a healthy coat of salt. This will minimize the chances of one of the guests slipping and injuring themselves.

Maximize Lighting

Thanks to daylight savings, it gets dark quite quickly in the winter time. This lack of light does no favors for your home. If possible, schedule your open house during the day, maximizing the amount of natural light in your home. Remember to retract your blinds and open any shutters or curtains. If it is not possible to host an open house during the day, purchase some bright, neutral lamps that make your house feel warm and cozy.

Maintain Curb Appeal

During the winter, it can be hard to maintain a high level of curb appeal. It is hard to appreciate something that is covered in snow. However, there are a handful of ways that homeowners can maintain their house’s curb appeal in the winter. Simple tasks like upgrading your mailbox, replacing your address numbers and painting your front door are all great for maintaining curb appeal.

Keep Your House Warm

During an open house, guests want to feel welcome and comfortable in your home. However, few things make a guest feel more uncomfortable than a frigid house. Before the open house begins, be sure to adjust your thermostat to an appropriate temperature. Also be sure not to go overboard with the heat, as the only thing worse than being cold at an open house, is being too hot at an open house.

Even though it may seem unlikely, homeowners actually have a better chance of selling their homes in the winter time. To utilize this opportunity, all homeowners should shovel their driveways, maximize lighting, maintain their houses curb appeal and keep their house warm during a winter open house. This will maximize the chances of it selling quickly.

For more useful tips on open houses during the winter, contact your local real estate agent.