First impressions matter.
And when it comes to selling your home, a potential buyer will form their first impression of your home before they even walk through the door.
The exterior of your home is the first thing home shoppers see when they look at your listing online or pull up to the curb for a showing. So to give a good first impression you need to make sure your curb appeal is on point.
In the summer, great curb appeal looks like a well-tended lawn and flowers in your garden beds. But in the winter, when everything’s buried in snow, how do you make a good first impression on potential buyers?
Even though your yard and gardens are snow-covered, you can still create some major curb appeal this winter. Here are a few tips for keeping your winter curb appeal high and drawing in buyers.
Keep Sidewalks and Driveway Clear
Like a lawn that needs mowing, an unshoveled sidewalk or driveway can make your home look shabby. Plus, it makes it difficult (and even unsafe) for buyers to get to your front door!
Before the snow flies, prep your sidewalks and driveway by sweeping, repairing any cracks, and applying a coat of sealant to concrete surfaces.
Then throughout the winter, clear all hardscape surfaces of snow and ice before every showing. And don’t stop at the front walk and driveway: clear out spaces that are selling points, like decks, patios, and balconies.
Inside the front door, make sure there’s a mat for wet shoes and boots to catch the snow and slush buyers track in with them. If there’s room, consider adding a bench or chair for people to use to take their shoes off as well.
Clean and Neaten Up Your Home’s Exterior
Tidy up your home’s exterior just as you would your indoor living areas. Here are a few ideas:
- Clean out gutters after the last of the leaves have fallen this fall. If any gutters or downspouts are in disrepair, have them fixed or replaced.
- Pressure wash your siding, and give your trim and railings a fresh coat of paint or stain.
- Have your roof inspected and repairs done as needed.
- Get new house numbers. Choose a style that matches your home’s exterior aesthetic, and match the finish to the mailbox or your door hardware. (Bonus: clearly visible house numbers help potential buyers find your home more easily!)
- Make sure your doorbell and door hardware are in good working order and looking nice.
- Give your mailbox a scrub. If it looks worn, consider replacing it.
- Give the front door a fresh coat of paint, preferably in a bright color to make it stand out against all the white and gray of winter.
Keep the Yard Tidy
A neglected yard and overgrown foliage isn’t a great look and will bring down your curb appeal. It’s important to keep your outdoor spaces clean and tidy while your home is on the market.
Before the snow falls, pick up and store away any outdoor toys and lawn furniture. Rake up leaves and keep the lawn mowed right up until it snows. Trim trees (especially evergreens) and shape winter shrubs and bushes.
Keep debris picked up from the yard all winter long, including tree branches, toys, dog waste (including yellow snow!), and so on.
Stage the Front Porch
Your front door and porch are your home’s centerpiece for winter curb appeal, so stage this area like you would your living room or other indoor spaces.
Add some weather-resistant furniture, such as a pair of chairs with a small table, as well as an outdoor rug. Maybe even add some pillows and blankets right before showings for an extra-cozy look. Place a durable welcome mat by the door with either a simple message (“Welcome”) or no message at all.
Bring some color and cheer to your porch with small potted evergreens or sprigs of holly, juniper, or other winter-friendly greenery (real or artificial). Add a wreath to the front door (but don’t overdo the Christmas decorations!).
The rule of thumb with staging is less is more…keep your decor simple and classic. Just as it is indoors, it’s difficult for buyers to imagine themselves living in your home if they’re distracted by too much decor.
Add Outdoor Lighting
There’s nothing less inviting than a dark front stoop.
And since it gets dark early in the winter, you’ll want to make sure the front of your home is well-lit for evening showings as well as potential buyers driving by at night. Cozy lit-up nighttime listing photos can be a hit as well!
Make sure your porch light and driveway lighting are in working order with new bulbs. And don’t forget to turn them on before showings!
Consider adding a string of holiday lights to frame your exterior trim or your porch railing, or wrap them around columns, pillars, or handrails. Stick to white lights for a cozy, classic appeal.
If you want to take it a step further, add some decorative lanterns placed on porch steps or beside the front door, or place sturdy solar-powered lights along your front path.
Lean On the ResComPros Team To Sell Your Home This Winter
In a nutshell, winter curb appeal is all about making sure potential buyers can look past the snow and ice to see everything your home has to offer. And since the winter market tends to be a bit slower, it’s important to give buyers every reason to want to view your home.
If you’re thinking of selling this winter, contact the ResComPros team at 612-747-1463. We’d love to help you navigate the winter housing market and get your home sold!