When the weather is chilly, it takes extra effort to warm prospective buyers

Sun., Dec. 19, 2004

The Spokesman-Review

Selling a home in wintertime can be challenging.

You can’t dazzle prospective buyers with flowerbeds in the yard or with a freshly mowed lawn, but there are some things you can do to make your home welcoming, even in the freezing cold.

Be sure that the walk is always shoveled and that walking surfaces are ice-free, write Shelley O’Hara and Nancy D. Lewis in their new book, “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Buying and Selling a Home.”

Clip any dead or ice-laden tree branches. Dead trees make your home look unappealing and ice-covered limbs can be dangerous.

The same goes for icicles. They may look nice hanging from the eaves of your home, but make sure there aren’t any that are hanging above where you and prospective buyers will be walking.

You might also use holiday decorations to your advantage. Don’t skimp on wreaths or lights. However, you should make sure that your home is decorated tastefully.

Inside, keep holiday clutter to a minimum by selecting only a few of your favorite pieces to put on display. O’Hara and Lewis explain that you want people to remember the features of your home — not your motorized singing Santa Claus.

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