Winter home-sellers, don’t despair! No matter the reason for your wintertime relocation, all hope is not lost for those looking to sell their house during the chilly season. Although the market is slower during the winter, there are plenty of buyers that continue their house-hunting throughout the chilly months.

With a little preparation and a little perseverance, you can get the attention of wintertime buyers by staging your home for winter selling success. Use the following simple home spruce-ups to take advantage of a less competitive real estate market and make your home irresistible to buyers!

Start at the Curb

You’ll want to begin by making sure that open house visitors and potential buyers have a clear pathway to and from your home.

Be sure your driveway and sidewalk are clear of ice and snow: shovel and de-ice your driveway and sidewalk, not only to facilitate entry to your home, but also to protect your visitors and potential buyers from a potential slip and fall on an icy driveway.

Make sure guests’ first impression of your home is a good one, including an accessible entryway.

Remember: it’s your responsibility as a homeowner to clear ice and snow from your portion of the sidewalk, so don’t put off shoveling that snow and clearing that ice!

Decorate Your Entryway

Before your would-be buyers peruse the rooms of your home, you want to make sure that they’re greeted with a warm and inviting entryway that dispels the bleak winter weather outdoors.

Add life to your entryway by adding seasonal décor and potted plants to your front porch and entryway. Evergreens and spruces are perfect for adding seasonal greenery to your porch,

Add decorative touches to the front door and porch, such as wreaths and festive greenery, and even Christmas lights during the holiday season.

What’s more, it’s wise to keep extra hangers in the closet so that guests can take off their coats before browsing your home. You’ll want them to be as comfortable as possible as they make their way through your home.

Keep it Cozy

If you’re feeling chilly at home in the winter months, then your guests will be feeling the chill as well! Consider the temperature when staging your home for selling during the winter months – turn up the heat to a warm, comfortable temperature (such as 21℃ or higher) several hours before a scheduled open house to ensure that your home is nice and toasty for would-be buyers.

There’s nothing quite as cozy as a crackling fire in the wintertime! To up the cozy factor, and to help keep temperatures warm in your home, turn on your fireplace if you have one. Make sure your fireplace is properly prepared, cleaned and maintained before you turn it on.

Get Out of the Dark

During shorter winter days, daylight comes in short supply. Since natural light is the most inviting, it’s wise should schedule your showings during the hours with the most daylight, from 10 AM to 3 PM.

Be sure your curtains are drawn and your blinds are rolled up to take advantage of all the natural daylight when it’s available.

What’s more, you’ll want to turn on all the lights in your home regardless of whether it’s daytime or nighttime.

Make Use of Winter-Themed Accessories

To give your furniture an added touch of warmth, add layers of winter-appropriate accessories such as textured pillows and throw blankets. What’s more, be sure that the linen you’re using for your bedspread is winter-appropriate.

Hang plush towels in your bathroom, and add warmth to hardwood floors with lush area rugs. Give your home a natural touch with winter-appropriate natural décor, such as twigs, birch, and winterberries.