Chuck Mangold makes the experience of selling homes pleasant, effective, and rewarding every season of the year. Cold weather and the holiday season present their own unique set of problems. They are easy to mitigate when you know what they are. Here are some common winter home selling mistakes to avoid, and get you started in the right direction.
Not Clearing Snow with Care: Your winter yard maintenance routine is minimal during the winter. You will need to clear snow from your driveway and walkways. It is paramount.
You can treat freshly fallen snow as a design element and carefully clear the walkway to your front door. Move the snow to a less visible corner of your front yard, rather than on the side of the walkway. This will create a majestic and beautiful entry into your home for potential buyers. The snow will appear untouched, other than the open path. It’s a simple task. When delegating the task to a snow removal company or resourceful young entrepreneur, make your expectations known. You never get a second chance to make a first impression, so use the freshly fallen snow to your advantage.
Not Keeping the Home Warm: Now is not the time to save a few dollars by turning the thermostat down a few degrees. Now is the time to keep your home warm and toasty for potential buyers. 68º-70ºF is acceptable. A warm home suggests a well insulated home.
Not Welcoming Buyers on a Holiday: Potential buyers can become excited during the gift giving season. They might want to buy themselves a very big present. You only need one qualified and interested party to make a successful sale. Don’t be a scrooge and reject a request to view your home on a holiday. There may be home buyers who want to look at your property on Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, and other winter holidays. Make them feel welcome, accept the viewing request, and make the sale.
Hosting Holiday Parties at Your Home: It is important that your home is vacant for a home viewing. If you are home it can make buyers uneasy and unintentionally thwart a potential sale. It’s important to have a plan on where to go, especially for a last minute showing request. Now is not the time for hosting parties in your home. Asking dozens of party guests to leave your home because of a last minute showing is impractical and impolite. Don’t paint yourself into a corner.
Invite other family members or friends to host parties during the holiday season while your home is on the market. You can offer to help with the cooking, preparations, mixing, and serving cocktails and associated costs (and remember to return with helping hands the following morning to clean up afterward). Alternatively, you can have your holiday party at a private venue. There are many charming businesses on the Eastern Shore of Maryland that will be perfect for hosting holiday events including Magnolia Manor in Easton, Swan Cove Manor in Cambridge, The Oaks Waterfront Inn & Events in Easton, and the Hummingbird Inn in Easton.
Overpricing Your Home: There may be bidding wars that develop when you list your home in the winter, though it tends to happen more in warmer weather when more people are searching. Set the price correctly the first time.
It’s always best to work with a qualified seller’s agent. Your seller’s agent will work on your behalf and serve your best interests, including pricing your home for the highest price possible for the current market. Chuck Mangold offers a free comparative market analysis to give you an estimate of how much your home is actually worth with respect to similar properties sold, under contract, and for sale in your area.
Not Partnering with a Seller’s Agent: Partnering with a qualified and experienced seller’s agent is important to sell your home effectively and for the best possible price. Chuck Mangold works with sellers in all price ranges, markets properties with print and digital media campaigns, and lists your home with the Multiple Listing Service (which includes Zillow.com, Realtor.com, and Trulia.com) and gives your property a dedicated domain web address to drive potential buyers directly to your home. Chuck has handled over 1,000 transaction sides (representing a seller or a buyer in real estate transactions) in his 20 year career. Partnering with Chuck is a great decision and he will guide you every step of the way. You will avoid many common mistakes before they become a problem.
I look forward to helping you sell your home on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. I am a resident and have a lifetime of Eastern Shore relationships, resources, and real estate experience to market and sell your home effectively every season of the year. Contact Chuck Mangold today!
Chuck Mangold