Many people think that selling in the winter is a bad move. With all the holidays and the cold, it might not be your first choice in timing. But buyers still need houses, even in the winter! 

With these secret real estate agent tips, you’ll know how to get your house ready to sell for top dollar this winter.

Keep your pathway and entrance free from snow. Make it easy for buyers to get into your home. Additionally, you don’t want to make it seem like it’s hard to maintain your outdoor spaces in the winter, so a clear entrance is key!

Brighten up every room. It gets dark early in the winter, so add some ambient lighting to keep your rooms feeling light and bright. Floor lamps are your best friend here. 

Keep the open house warm. No one wants to walk into a cold house in the dead of winter, so make sure your space feels welcoming by keeping it nice and warm. It’s worth spending the extra money on heating costs for your open house and showings.

Make your home feel cozy. Some throw blankets, nice winter smells, and good lighting go far to make your home feel like somewhere buyers will want to stay around for a while. 

Keep good curb appeal. Even though you don’t need to mow your lawn, make sure the outside of your home looks well-kept. Cleaning your windows and washing any siding can help your home look fresh and move-in ready. 

Keep holiday decor to a minimum. You want the focus to be on your home, not your decor, so keep it simple for any holidays. 

Winter gets a bad rap in real estate, but it can actually be a great time to sell, especially when you have these tips. The key is to make your home feel warm, cozy, and bright so that buyers feel like it’s somewhere they can call home. 

Want some help getting your home sold this winter? Feel free to reach out and I’ll help you sell your home for top dollar!

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Some renovations aren’t worth it if you want a good return on investment or ROI. This is especially true in the bathroom! Several bathroom renovations don’t pay off. When sellers put these upgrades into their bathrooms, they nearly never recoup the renovation cost and, as a result, don’t get a high ROI. 

Let’s go through these 5 bathroom envisions that won’t pay off.  

1. Steam shower: Steam showers can add a spa-like atmosphere, but they’re a niche item for buyers.
2. Whirlpool bathtub: Most buyers see these outdated and have heard horror stories about how difficult they are to clean, which can make them a major turn-off.
3. Moving to plumb: Unless the bathroom layout truly doesn’t make sense, it’s not worth it to move to plumb around. This is one of the most expensive things to do, and you generally will never recoup the costs.
4. Heated floors are luxurious for sure, but if your goal is a high ROI, steer clear of high-cost upgrades like a heated floor. Buyers don’t care enough about heated flooring for it to be a selling feature.
5. Too many high-tech gadgets: a fun upgrade here and there can pique buyers’ interest, but too many can feel overkill.

Everyone likes a nice, updated bathroom. But if you invest in upgrades that don’t appeal to buyers, you’ll be spending money you won’t ever get back when you sell. Most buyers don’t care about a high-tech bathroom with all the upgrades. Many would much rather have that money put towards a kitchen renovation because that’s where they’ll spend way more time! The next time you consider a significant bathroom upgrade, consider what future buyers might think and if you’re likely to have a high ROI. From there, you can make the right decision for you now and in the future. Have questions about which updates are right for your home? Feel free to reach out, and I’ll help you decide what upgrades will get your home sold for top dollar! 

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