Guide to Selling your Arlington Virginia Home this Winter (2021)
Unsure if you should sell your home Arlington this Winter? Are you waiting until the spring to list your home? You don’t need to wait for warmer weather to sell your house, and you can get a great price for your home during the off-season--particularly now because inventory is very low in Arlington--and mortgage rates are still excellent. A few simple tips will help you get your house ready to sell, and close the deal quickly.
Consider Curb Appeal Of course, first impressions are extremely important, so think about curb appeal, and how your house looks from the street. Certainly that is tougher in the winter, but you want buyers to be impressed with your home before they even set foot inside. Take some time on landscaping details like trimming the trees or adding some potted plants by the front door. Draw attention to your windows with a quick and easy makeover. You can add shutters for a updated look, or paint the trim for a pop of color. Keep your yard clean and tidy and make sure you rake and mow the lawn before the first snowfall--and promptly remove snow.
Lighting Matters Set the mood with the right lighting and make your home attractive to potential buyers on dark winter evenings. You won’t be able to rely on sunlight for most of your viewings, so replace any burnt-out bulbs and buy an extra lamp to get rid of gloomy shadows. Focus on the lighting in the kitchen. The kitchen is truly the heart of the home and not just a place to cook. Make sure the lights are bright enough for easy cooking, but avoid harsh white light to keep the kitchen warm and friendly. Finally, get a bright outside light so buyers can read your house number in the evening and feel welcomed in from the cold.
Consider Your Online Shoppers With the lower temperatures and busy schedules, winter home buyers will spend more time looking at listings online and choose to visit very few houses. With my help, taking professional photos of your home for the online listing can put you ahead of the competition, and show your home in the very best light. Buyers will have a great first impression of the home and want to see more.
Pricing Your Home Just because you’re selling your home in the winter doesn’t mean you need to compromise on price, especially right now. It's a sellers market in Arlington. In fact, you might get a better price in the off-season, especially with inventory so low! For the most part, only serious buyers are out during the winter months, and with fewer homes on the market, your chances of a sale actually increase. You may be able to sell your home in a matter of days, without needing to lower your price. In fact, you may command a higher price over asking. When pricing your home, be sure to educate yourself on the current pricing and trends in your area (homes in Arlington are currently going for an average price of $624K--though, it's often much more than that.
Selling your home in winter is a great choice, and with minimal prep work, you’ll have potential buyers very interested in your attractive home. Take the time to research the market, find out what buyers are looking for, and, with my help, we can easily sell your Arlington home this winter.
For more tips and up-to-date information contact me today and be sure to follow me on Facebook @Brad Winkelmann Real Estate Arlington VA, Orange Line Metro.