We all know that with the arrival of colder weather and the holiday season, the housing market slows down significantly. But it doesn’t come to a stop. With motivated sellers still looking to list in some of the colder months, it makes sense to have a strategy in place for a winter open house. After all, winter comes around every year. If you can create an open house that feels like a warm winter refuge and a great place to entertain, prospective buyers will be able to imagine themselves in the house throughout the year – and that spells sales. Here are five tips to help you do just that:
Think warmth and welcoming. If just getting to the front door is a struggle, buyers will start their tour in a bad mood – if they start it at all. Make sure that there are plenty of places to park and a clear path to the door. While front door entrances are traditional at open houses, if there is an easily accessible side door or mud room, funneling people that way can be a great way to show off a home’s convenient features in inclement weather.
The key to a buyer’s heart is through his stomach. Kitchens are often the centerpiece of a home. Get everyone in a festive mood with warm, comforting treats: spiced apple cider, hot cocoa, chocolate chip cookies (bonus points if you can get them to guests while they’re still warm!), and mini candy canes.
Keep it toasty. Cold toes can make anyone cranky. You don’t want to turn up the thermostat until people are sweating in their winter clothes, but you do want everyone to feel comfortable. If the house has been vacant for a while, it’s a good idea to stop in a day or so before the open house to make run the heat a bit. Some furnaces give off an unpleasant smell when they’re first turned back on for the season, and you don’t want a burning odor to greet prospective buyers when they enter a home.
Decorate like a minimalist. Coco Chanel famously said that before leaving the house, she would look in the mirror and remove one piece of jewelry to ensure she never over-accessorized. Decorating for a winter open house requires a similarly light touch. It’s important not to go overboard with knick-knacks or holiday décor, but a completely undecorated house can look cold or barren.
Leave them wanting more. A brochure is a must with any open house, but it’s especially important when you’re showing homes in the winter. People will hopefully leave the open house feeling good, but they need a quality real estate brochure to remind them of all the best parts about the house they just saw. If possible, try to get some pictures on the brochure that reflect the home’s landscaping and curb appeal in the summertime, so that prospective buyers feel like they have a good sense of what the house looks like all year round.
This winter, why not consider an open house? Keep plenty of real estate business cards on hand, and this could be a great opportunity to show current and prospective clients that you’re always willing to go the extra mile when it comes to selling their house.