It’s so easy to have an open house during summertime. The sun’s shining, you have warm air coming in, and the curb appeal of your home is amazing thanks to your green lawn and blooming flowers.
Winter’s very different when you want to have an open house. Your potential buyers are going to huddle indoors, worried about the snow and cold. There aren’t a lot of people who are coming during the holiday season when folks are spending time with their friends and family and don’t go looking for houses.
If you are creating other hurdles for those who are coming to see your house, before the door is even open, it could take you a long time to get through the winter until spring. Below are seven things that you should avoid doing when you are having an open house during the winter to help any potential buyers feel like they are welcome.
Common Open House Mistakes When You Don’t Sell Your House As Is
So if you decide to go through with an open house then you want to avoid these mistakes when having a winter open house.
Not Having a Clear Path
One of the biggest mistakes that you can make when you are having a winter open house is to not give them someplace clear to walk. Clearing a path is going to not only give them someplace to walk that isn’t full of snow. It’s also going to help them avoid slipping and falling because the surface is icy.
When you want to bring people to your home, you want to make sure that there’s somewhere clear for them to walk. This isn’t just about making sure the path is shoveled, either. You also want to lay down some rock salt so that melted snow doesn’t refreeze.
Although clearing the sidewalk is a good start, you want to think beyond the box. Snow that has built up on the street could cause the house to become less visible. It also might mean that your potential buyers are going to have to park further from your house. This might mean that they are going to feel that it’s not worth it. Make sure that there’s a lot of space for them to park.
Skipping Your Landing Zone
One thing that you know when it comes to winter in Massachusetts is that it can mean rain as well as snow. This will also mean jackets, muddy shoes, scarves, and gloves. Even though they’ll do their best to be careful and polite, many potential buyers are going to track in a lot of muck, messing up your home.
Make this landing zone close to the entrance to help with keeping that mess to a minimum. Add some additional hooks and/or coat racks so that your potential buyers don’t have to worry about carrying around their heavy coats. It also helps to put up a sign that nicely requests them to remove footwear and provide some cubbies or baskets to store their items. An umbrella stand is also a great choice.
If you want to go the extra mile, you can also purchase some inexpensive slippers. This way no one has to worry about walking wearing just their socks. They are going to love it.
Turning Up the Heat Too High
It’s winter so you want to keep the house warm. After all, with all of that snow covering the yard and icicles dangling from the trees, and the chill in the air, it makes you want to crank up the heat. Winter’s not coming. It’s definitely here. But even though the air is cold it doesn’t mean you’ll need to make your home feel like a sauna.
Find a good temperature to put your thermostat on. This doesn’t mean making it 80 degrees inside. Anyone who is coming into your house is going to be entering from a temperature that is a lot colder. They’ll be wearing coats, boots, and hats, and they’re going to find the warm temperature really steamy. A good temperature is 68, and it will help everyone stay comfortable.
If the people who come into the house find it’s uncomfortable, chances are that they won’t stick around.
Not Going the Extra Mile
Having an open house during the wintertime is a great way that you can show some holiday spirit. You shouldn’t limit yourself simply to offering bottled water and cookies from the supermarket. An open house during the winter is going to require more effort. It also is going to be appreciated by the people who are braving the elements to come out.
One of the things that you can consider is hiring someone to play Santa to take pictures with children. Or you can hire a professional caterer to provide snacks, hot chocolate, and seasonal treats. You should also make sure that you’re flaunting the fireplace if you have one. This way, things are going to feel very cozy. When you are having your open house during the summer, you can’t show off your fireplace. So use it to your advantage.
Doing Too Much
Although this might seem like it is contrary to the mistake above, give us a minute to explain. Make sure that you’re allowing your potential buyers to picture themselves living in the house.
You know that you adore that unique Christmas tree and that exciting light show that is adorning the front of your house. However, this is something that not everyone’s going to love.
Skip holiday décor. Not everyone who is coming to your open house celebrates Christmas. Plus, the holiday decorations are very personal. If you want to have some seasonal decorations, you want to make sure they’re subdued and tasteful. A simple wreath or a throw that is in red and green. But skip things that are large and ostentatious.
Forgetting the Light
Dreariness and darkness will rule during the winter. However, your visitors must be finding your home’s open house cheerful and bright.
Lighting is among the most essential factors when you are selling your home. the only thing that is more important is location, and it’s something that your buyers are going to look for.
Before your open house, look at the rooms and give them a good, long look. If there aren’t any built-in light fixtures, you want to add a few lamps so that the room pops.
Adding a few more bulbs won’t be the only thing that brightens your room. It’s also a good idea to scrub your windows, increase wattage and remove drapes. You can also trim the bushes outside so that the sunshine comes in.
Not Weather Watching
It’s important that you are keeping your eyes on the skies. Flurries are fine. But if you’re noticing that the snow is really starting to come down, you want to reschedule. Being flexible can make a big difference between a lot of happy and excited potential buyers or an empty house.
If you are selling a house as is in wintertime and you are planning to have an open house, then you want to avoid making these mistakes. Otherwise, you are going to have a hard time selling your house. That’s why you might want to sell your house as is instead.
Want to sell your house as is and avoid all of the problems with having an open house? Or maybe you want to know about how to sell your house as is? Contact us today to get a no-obligation fair cash quote. We’re happy to help you by answering all of your questions and showing you what we can do. We make it very easy for you to sell your house as is and we are here to help!
