For one thing, removed from the sometimes frenzied action of the spring market, sellers can take a little more time to consider offers, and with fewer homes on the market, there’s less competition. Buyers out in the cold weather looking at homes are not “tire kickers.” They want to buy a home and get moved in.  The things that lead people to make new home purchases — a new job, a growing family, up – or downsizing – happen all year round. In fact, winter is a great time for playing up your home’s cozy, family-friendly charm.Additionally, “Houses tend to show very well when decorated tastefully for the holidays, and buyers enjoy this.”  The drawbacks to selling in colder seasons are that showings may interrupt holiday activities.  As is true of any time of year, a well staged home has a higher chance of selling closer to the asking price.

Start with the exterior

As with any time of year, make sure that the house looks well maintained and cared for.  While you can’t paint in winter, washing paintwork and siding with warm soapy water on a mild day can make a big difference. Make sure the windows are freshly washed as well; winter light has a way of highlighting grime.

Tend to foliage

Make sure that shrubs and tree-branches bent down with snow don’t obstruct walkways or entrances; brush the snow off or prune if necessary. (It won’t hurt them.) Ensure that the walkway is shoveled and ice-free before every showing; not only is this a courtesy and crucial to making the home look well maintained, but if a visitor slips and is hurt, you could be liable for damages.

Adorn the entryway

A wreath on the front door or front porch present a welcoming entry. Plant urns with festive greenery, the fuller the better: along with cedar or pine boughs, tuck in sprigs of holy, dried berries, magnolia leaves, corkscrew hazel or red osier branches, and perhaps gold wire ribbon woven through the arrangement.

Make a good first impression

Once a prospective buyer comes inside, remember that you may have only 10 to 15 minutes to make a lasting impression. (A small but crucial point for unoccupied homes: make sure the heat is turned on several hours before the showing. All the window-dressing and staging in the world won’t entice buyers to linger inside a home that’s freezing.)

Light candles

Romance visitors’ sense of smell by lighting fragrant candles.  A time-honored but still effective trick, especially on a cold winter’s day, is to have a pot of cider simmering on the stove, or cookies or fresh bread baking.

Protect the floors

To protect your floors, put down rubber mats by the door for snowy boots; or buy shoe protectors for visitors to wear while they view your home.

Light a fire

If you have a wood-burning fireplace, light a fire and let it glow during the showing. Consider modest winter flower arrangements or amaryllis blooms in some rooms.

Display photos of what your home looks like in other seasons

Showcase photographs of your home taken during the warmer seasons. During the winter months it might be hard for buyers to picture what your home looks like the rest of the year. If you have photographs of your garden in the spring, the pool in the summer, or your trees with bright foliage in the fall, display these photographs for buyers to see.

After the holidays, seasonal decorations can be taken down, but urn arrangements and even the front door wreath can stay up for the rest of the winter, if it isn’t too Christmasy in design. Make sure you continue to maintain walkways clear of ice and snow, and think warm thoughts!

Check out De-Cluttering vs. Staging and Steps on how to prepare your home for sale – great resources for every seller.