How to Sell Your House in San Francisco: 5 Seasonal Tips for Colder Months

Selling a home is a very stressful event because there are so many obstacles to closing it. As if selling a home wasn’t stressful enough, add to it cold, bad weather, and selling the house becomes even more stressful. Unfortunately, selling a home in colder months can be pretty tricky. This is because, due to bad weather, a buyer may not get an opportunity to view the home. Additionally, a buyer may not be in the market for purchasing a home during colder months. So, with the odds against you when it comes to trying to sell your home in San Francisco in colder months, here are some tips to make it a bit easier.

Try to Incorporate Decor of The Season

When you think of cold-season decor, the first thing that comes to mind is all of the holidays that occur during the cooler months. So you may be tempted to decorate your house with Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Christmas decor. But decorating for the season isn’t limited to holiday decor. Instead, it would help if you kept it neutral by choosing decor that isn’t associated with specific holidays.

Keep in mind that some of your buyers may not celebrate any of these holidays. Not to sound like Scrooge, but even during these months, you have to keep in mind that you are trying to sell your home to someone who wants to see it as their own. As a result, it is a good idea to keep your home decor as neutral as possible.

Add Pops of Color

Sometimes colder months can give you the blues. As a matter of fact, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression related to seasonal changes. To prevent falling victim to this disorder and keep potential buyers happy, adding cheery decor to your home is a good idea. Instead of sticking with neutral tones only, it is a good idea to add pops of color throughout your home decor. For example, incorporating reds, oranges, yellow, and greens or a great way to spruce things up for the season.

Use Luxurious Décor

When most people think of winter, they think of warm fires and cozy blankets. So, when decorating your home, try to incorporate beautiful, opulent accents into your decor. For example, consider using luxurious throws for your couch. Or even try incorporating lavish comforters on your beds. This will give potential buyers a feeling of warmth as they peruse your home.

Make Indoors Cozy

Along with adding luxurious decor to your home to make it cozy, it is a good idea also to add other touches to make your home feel comfortable. For instance, one good way to make your space feel cozy is to decorate your fireplace if you have one. Another good option is to add window treatments that are heavier and ornate. If you have hardwood flooring, laying down a cozy rug will also make your space feel welcoming. Finally, don’t forget to make your indoor temperature comfortable. You don’t want guests to walk through your house shivering from cold indoor air. This may make them want to leave as soon as they arrive. If you want potential buyers to savor each moment they spend exploring your home, ensure that the indoor temperatures are bearable. Consider keeping the temperature between 68 and 72 degrees and allow the thermostat to remain on auto so that it adjusts accordingly.

Incorporate Pleasant Odors

Another part of making indoors cozy is ensuring that your home smells incredible. You can incorporate some of the great smells of the season, such as fresh apple and cinnamon scents. However, keep in mind that some buyers may have sensitivities toward fragrances such as these. Therefore, even if you decide not to use scented candles or essential oils to improve the smell of your home, it is a good idea to ensure that your home does not have repulsive odors. This may include cigarette smoke, pet odors, pungent food odors, and others since that may turn potential buyers off.

Keep Your Curb Appeal Tidy

When fall rolls around, you may not have to mow your grass as much as you would during warmer months because your grass type is probably dormant. But you will need to keep your curb appeal tidy. Despite the lack of grass growth, leaves are probably still shedding all over your yard, making it look unkempt. Instead of letting leaves get out of hand, it is a good idea to remove them or have a lawn company eliminate the leaves from your property regularly.

Additionally, spiders and other critters may be making a home near or on your house. Instead of keeping an unappealing home with lots of webs surrounding it, it may be a good idea to call out pest control to eradicate your pest problems. It may also be good to have a power washing company to clean and remove dirt, webs, and grime that has accumulated on your home.

Price Your Home Right

After making your home look its best, it is a good idea to make sure you price it right. While it may be tempting to price your house well above the asking price of most homes in the area, this could leave your house on the market for months. Just because you think the changes you’ve made to your house are dynamic doesn’t mean buyers will be willing to pay the list price you’ve chosen. Lenders may also not find much value in your home, especially if you’ve made too many unique updates. When pricing your home, it is a good idea to price it to sell without leaving excessive amounts of money on the table. The best way to do this is to work closely with a top-rated real estate agent to accurately price your home using comps in the local area.

Sell Your Home’s Energy Efficiency

If you are planning to sell your home in cooler months, it is a good idea to play up parts of your home that are energy efficient. For instance, if you have installed a new door that keeps out air and noise, it is a good idea to emphasize this in the listing. Or if you’ve recently had a new roof installed, it is a good idea to play up this feature. One of the essential energy-efficient features you can sell is a recent addition of energy-efficient windows. If you have recently had such windows installed, keep in mind that you should emphasize this or have your real estate agent point out this key feature. Any appliances or features that help homebuyers save money during cooler months can be an enticing part of the home-selling process.

Choose An Agent Who Is Motivated To Help

Whether you need to sell your house fast or not, it is a good idea to work with an agent who can provide the help you need to sell your house. Unfortunately, since cooler months are usually slow, there may be few agents who are available to help you with selling your home. On the flip side, since it is slow, finding the right agent who is motivated to help close a deal as quickly as possible is ideal.

References

https://www.moneycrashers.com/selling-house-winter/

https://www.homelight.com/blog/tips-for-selling-your-home-in-the-winter

https://www.bhg.com/decorating/seasonal/winter/winter-decorating-ideas/