1. CREATE INVITING CURB APPEAL
Decorate the outside of the house with some Christmas decorations including lights, especially since it gets dark so early this time of year, adding a timer is a good idea. Although, daytime showings are preferred, turning on all of the lights inside will make the house “glow” during the darker hours as they approach.

2. KEEP DRIVEWAY AND SIDEWALKS CLEAR
This is a must. Make sure that the sidewalk and pathway to the house are scraped and salted. Nothing will turn your home into a terrible experience faster than the buyer falling on the ice before they even enter your home. Not only is it a negative connotation about the safety of your home, but you could also face a potential law suit.

3. CREATE A NICE AROMA WITH SMELL
This may be one of the first things that people will notice when they walk in the door as they are taking their shoes off. Baking some homemade cookies (Bake, don’t burn!) creates a beautiful homey smell and feeling. Alternatively, a pot of apple cider that has been heated on the stove will give a delightful Christmasy smell. Maybe even go the extra mile and leave some of those cookies you made out for your buyers with a little note for them to help themselves. They might not remember the moldings, but they will remember the wonderful experience they had.

4. GIVE BUYERS A PLACE TO ESCAPE FROM THE COLD
Make your home feel cozy and inviting during showings by turning up to the heat and playing music very softly in the background. When you encourage buyers to spend more time in your home, you also give them more time to admire it’s best features.

5. DECK THE HALLS, BUT DON’T GO OVERBOARD
Several strands of Christmas lights and a wreath on the door can be enough. Keep banners and large yard displays packed up this year. Get a smaller tree than you normally would if your living room is small as it will make the space look larger. A few warpped (fake or real) presents under the tree can be a nice touch.

6. TAKE TOP-NOTCH REAL ESTATE PHOTOS
Homebuyers will likely start their search from the comfort of their current home, especially if it is cold and snowy outside. Make a great first impression by offering high quality inviting photos of your home.

7. CREATE A VIDEO WALKTHROUGH FOR THE WEB
As technology advances, so should the marketing of your home. Have your realtor shoot a high definition video walkthrough of your home. You will likely get less foot traffic during this time of year, but having a video walkthrough will attract house hunters who don’t have time to physically see your home or would rather not drive in winter weather.

8. RELAX – THE NEW YEAR IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER
Christmas can be quite stressful, with gifts to buy, dinners to prepare, and relatives to entertain. Take a moment to remind yourself that if you don’t sell now, there’s always next year, which luckily is only a few days away 🙂

As seen on WelcomeToKelowna.com

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