If you are listing your home in the winter, remember to keep those walks and drives shoveled and clear of ice and snow. You never know when you will have a showing. Yes, too many of you this may seem silly but invariably, every winter I am showing homes where the walkways and drives have been untouched or been very poorly kept.
Buyers can be out at anytime looking at houses and if they feel an urgency to buy, a snow storm will not slow them down. I have shown homes during big storms or the day after a big storm. As a home seller it is important to keep those walks and drives free of all snow and ice.
There is also a certain liability you carry when inviting home buyers to your home. While accidents happen, don’t you be the cause of a slip and fall because of walks and drives that were not shoveled.
There is nothing worse than getting to a house in the winter and the walks and drives are not cleared of snow and ice. Sometimes if there is too much snow we cant open the door or the buyers don’t feel like trudging a 100 feet in knee deep snow and they by pass your listing. Sellers need to note if I am showing your home to a potential home buyer, I am probably showing them several more homes at the same time.
Little Things Leave Impressions with Home Buyers
Home sellers need to understand that many little things can send little messages to home buyers. Home buyers may not realize it, but they do. Do you want the home buyers walking through your front door already miffed that they had to trudge through a 100 feet of snow. You have already left that home buyer with a negative first impression.
When selling a home in any season that first impression is so important. A good first impression or a bad first impression can set the tone for the rest of a showing.
So get your walkways and drives shoveled immediately. Remember home buyers may have different schedules than you. There chosen showing time may not make sense or be convenient for you, but that may be the only time they can go. Give easy access to your home to all potential home buyers. let them focus on your homes positives than start them with negative thoughts.
Other Winter Home Showing Tips
Making your home inviting is one of the keys to selling your home regardless of the season. In the winter giving easy access to your home by keeping your walks and drives shoveled is one way to make your home inviting but here are two other tips to welcome your winter home buyers.
- Male sure the house is warm. Walking into a warm house on a cold winter evening is definitely inviting.
- Light up the house before you leave. With limited day light hours in the winter don’t make the home buyers and agents walk into a dark house fumbling for light switches, light it up for them! That includes outdoor lights as well.
Remember it only takes one buyer to get an offer on your home. Don’t turn away a buyer because you didn’t get out to shovel the walks and clear the driveway from snow.
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Kevin Vitali of EXIT Group One Real Estate has provided this article, Keep the Walks and Drives Shoveled. I have been a full time agent know for about 15 years. I have been involved in hundreds of real estate transactions and can help you make the most of your next home sale. If you are thinking of selling your home, give me a call at 978-360-0422 so I can provide you with the information you need.
