Get Creative With Winter Curb Appeal

Sometimes people wait to sell until spring.  At Jill Giese & Associates, we like to say that spring starts in January! Homes priced well in desirable locations are selling extremely quickly now.

Once we've found a buyer for your home, a typical sale will take 30-45 days. If you list your home today and received an offer tomorrow, you still wouldn't be able to move until the middle of February! And this doesn't take any pre-listing preparations into consideration. 

Don't worry, you can still create striking curb appeal in winter without expensive or complicated exterior changes with these great tips:

1. Add splashes of green and purple. Plants, grasses, and evergreens liven up a home's winter landscape. Experiment with tall grasses, such as fountain grasses, that survive harsh winters. In the late fall and early winter, plants from the cabbage family add a vibrant purple color.
2. Give it seasonal sparkle. Transform an unused bird bath or fountain into a seasonal display by adding twigs with red berries. Fill frost-resistant urns with twigs, winter greenery, and sparkly baubles sold in craft stores. For extra sparkle, roll twigs in glitter and incorporate a gazing ball — a mirrored glass ball available in various colors.
3. Make the garden statuesque. Roman or Greek-themed outdoor sculptures can add class and elegance to a garden in winter. Be sure to use frost-resistant statues so they don't crack. Place the statues strategically throughout the garden to draw buyers' eyes around the outdoor space.
4. Light it bright. During winter it's more likely a buyer will be viewing the home after sunset. Use clear flood spotlights to focus on the home's architectural features. Keep exterior light fixtures at maximum wattage and clean them regularly.
5. Show off the lifestyle. Just because it's cold outside doesn't mean you can't use the deck. Shovel your backyard sitting area and leave your grill uncovered so buyers can envision themselves using the space. It's also a great idea to leave a hot tub open and running during showings.
6. Make the deck an extension of the house. Set up your outdoor tables and chairs as you would in the warmer months. For added appeal, add a weatherproof café set with pillows that play off of interior accent colors. Glancing at this setting from inside can make the indoor space feel larger and more interesting.
7. Create a photo display of sunnier days. Show buyers what the outside of the home looks like during other seasons by displaying some landscape photos in frames or using a digital photo frame with a slide show of images. If the home has a garden, make a list of what's planted where.
8. Don't forget to clear a path. If the ground is covered in snow, the simplest and most important thing you can do is shovel the driveway and sidewalks and keep the home's patios and decks as clear as possible so buyers can get a sense of their true size.

The idea that your home can't look great during winter is inaccurate. The myth that homes don't sell in the winter is even more inaccurate. Give us a call to discuss how we can use any season to highlight your home's best features and get it SOLD!