SELLING YOUR HOME IN WINTER
Getting your home ready for buyers in the winter
Home is everyone’s personal space, a place where one can be completely oneself without any worries. At times you need to sell your home, and move out to hopefully better ventures. A home that has to be sold need to be prepared in a manner that it is presentable for the next party. This requires some work and expenditure by the owner.
Generally, this is a difficult task which becomes more of a challenge in the winter season. Though winter is not a good time to show off your home but if the need persists some common preparatory tasks that need to be performed are listed in the text below to help you; and make the work easy for you.
Front Walk Way
First is to clear the passage towards the front door. The buyer should be able to walk in the house in order to have a look.
Therefore, you need to scrape the snow and pave a clear way towards the main door. This pavement should be scraped from the street and not only your porch. You should also sprinkle sand on the steps and the path to avoid slips and ensure firm footings of the visitor.
Lighting
Adequately lighten up the house using both the natural and artificial sources of light. Turn on all the lights and place additional lamps if needed in the corners. Draw on the curtains and let the natural light to come in the house. Clean the windows as curtains will be drawn, and clean windows apart from giving a good impression will allow the entrance of light easily.
Clean
Ensure that the house is warm and inviting for the visitor. Polish the floors and bathroom utilities, clean cobwebs and wash the stair case. Get done with any general repairs which were pending. Turn on the heaters and make the house warm. Vacuum carpets as in winter dust is more attracted to things due to static and becomes more visible also, so clear off the dust and clean things so that the home looks fresh and presentable.
Weatherization:
If due to any reason your property couldn’t be sold; and you now want to keep it vacant and wait till summers to put it on sale, winterize it before vacating. Winterizing includes some little steps which are listed as follows:
Pipes
Water pipes should be the first point of concern as extreme weather tends to burst or crack them. Firstly drain off water from the pipes. Then using air compressors blow out any leftover water, shield the pipes using insulators and finally turn off the water pipes.
Thermostat
Turn down the heating thermostat but do not completely shut off or else the temperature drop will adversely impact the pipes and appliances. Drain off all water appliances and if needed call an expert to winterize furnaces, air conditioners and other such household items.
Switch off electricity from its main socket. Seal off the gaps and cracks in windows and doors using waterproof seals. This entire process will help in maintaining the house when you are not around, saving a lot of expenses and making it easier to sell in summers.…