Getting your home prepared for the cold weather is an important factor for winter viewings of your property. Drafts, cold zones and wet floors can detract from your home
Getting your home prepared for the cold weather is an important factor for winter viewings of your property. Drafts, cold zones and wet floors can detract from your homes appeal during the winter months. So here are my top 10 winterization tips.
- Have a professional come to service and inspect your furnace. Documentation showing that your furnace is regularly maintained helps potential buyers feel at ease when they inspect the property. Having a folder with service records and other household maintenance information will show people that you have cared and loved your home.
- Insulate and seal up your home. Before the snow flies that you have calked around the windows and doorways to keep those frigid winter breezes outside.
- Ensure that the weather stripping around the windows and door is free of creaks and properly seals when they are closed.
- Clean the downspouts and gutters. This will help prevent the buildup of snow and ice and potential leaks as temperatures start to get milder.
- Ensure that the roof is in good condition. Rapidly fluctuating temperatures can greatly increase the level of damage to a worn roof. Problem areas should be fixed immediately.
- Ensure that the driveway and walkways are clear of snow and ice. This should seem obvious but I have been to a couple homes were elderly buyers couldn't make it up the walkway because of the ice and snow.
- Keep entrances and exits clear of melt water. This will ensure that entrances are clean and clear of potential slipping hazards.
- This is a season of frigid temperatures, so people expect you to dress the part. However they would prefer to not see a pile of coats crammed into a foyer or a kitchen. It will definitely take away from your homes appeal.
- Insulate pipes, against freezing temperatures. Having a burst pipe, can greatly impact a showing. It takes a long time to remove signs of moisture damage.
- If your home is equipped with a wood burning fireplace, then clean the chimney, and make sure that the wood stove is functioning properly. On a side note here, many people love having a woodstove but hate the mess. Make sure that debris from you wood is cleaned up.Finally make sure that showings are warm and inviting. Rooms should be well lit and warm. Turning up the heat during showings may help a little if you are normally conservative with the thermostat.
Good luck with your winter sales.
The copyright of the article Winter Home Sales in Buying/Selling a Home is owned by Joel Nash. Permission to republish Winter Home Sales must be granted by the author in writing.
