This is a great time of year to put your house on the market for sale. Everyone else is waiting for Spring to roll around and in the mean time inventory dwindles. So let's get your house out there while there is less competition. At this time of year you don't have to worry about keeping the lawn mowed around here, just keep the sidewalks cleared. Buyers are out there wanting to take advantage of the extended tax credit so now is not the time to stall. Sure there is the hustle and bustle of the holidays, but the Buyers are serious and don't want to be kept waiting.
The holidays also brings us great decorating ideas to boost our curb appeal. A freshly painted door with a simple evergreen wreath can look dramatic and elegant. Just painting the front door can work wonders for a tired entrance. Could a red door be in your future? If your house would look just hideous with a red door choose a color that compliments your house. Dark colors like black, brown and red can make more of an impact on the visual appeal of your home. It won't matter a darn how great your home is on the inside if you can't get buyers past the front porch.
Reaching the front porch with ease and safety are top priorities in the winter months. Make sure your driveway and sidewalks are absolutely clear of all ice and snow. Buyers want to feel safe and you want them to feel your home is the safest and easiest to take care of around. Take a look at the bushes and trees around your walk and drive and trim them back. Put down a new heavy duty, thick, decorative mat in front of the door for Buyers to wipe their feet on before entering. I have even seen heated mats out there that stay free and clear of snow and ice that work well on stairs.
Check your lighting and increase the wattage of all outdoor bulbs. The dark comes on fast this time of year and a well lit entrance is so much more inviting. See if you can put these outside lights on a timer. If you can't put them on a timer just leave them on- period. Consider adding solar powered lights to the front walkway. Now there is lighting and then there are Christmas lights. If you are on the market it is not the year to win the city wide house decorating contest by driving up your electricity bill to astronomical proportions. The blow up Santa carousel with all seven reindeer should stay packed this year and ready for your next home. Small white lights on the shrubbery are fine but you don't want your home visible from outer space. The Clark Griswold version of merry is most people's version of tacky.
Winter decorations that work after the Christmas season include simple wreaths with bright red bows. Evergreen wreaths are beautiful but a rustic grapevine wreath with red berries works well too. Sounds like a trip to the craft store to me!Just get out the glue gun and have some fun. A simple wall hanging or decorative flag with a winter motif will add quick pizazz to your doorway. Go bolder with color in the winter, it will really pop against the white backdrop. Use colors like burgundy, deep blue, forest green, bright red and classic black. Fill a planter with evergreen branches, twigs with bright berries, holly with small lights to add a touch of sparkle. A trio of potted evergreen plants can add the color you are looking for without too much investment.
A little planning will go a long way it shortening your marketing time. For your final step in making the perfect entrance to your home. Take a look at your street numbers on the house. Are they easy to see from the street? If you can't see them then you need to replace them with larger numbers. Make your house easy for everyone to find. Curb appeal is everything when selling. Buyers do judge the book by its cover. So make sure your house looks like the sweetest spot on the street when selling.
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(c) Shannon Aldrich 2009
Keller Williams Coastal Realty, Portsmouth NH
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