Home Sales in Winter: Three Tips to Improve Curb Appeal in Cold Weather


If you’re selling your home during the winter months in an area that has moderate temperatures, there are several steps you can take to give your property that extra pizzazz and curb appeal. Curb appeal is the phrase used in describing the way your house looks when you drive up to it. As they say, you only get one chance to make a good first impression. So, even if you have a beautiful home inside, if your curb appeal is lacking, you may never get potential buyers in to see the rest of the house if they’re unimpressed when they pull into the driveway.

It’s even more challenging in the winter when many plants are out of season and gray weather hides the sun. However, here are three tips to boost your curb appeal in colder months so you can sell your home quickly with minimal outside effort.

First, make sure that you keep your front yard clean. That means removing any dead flowers from the prior summer, raking up any loose leaves, and generally keeping what’s left of your lawn looking neat. If your area gets cold enough to freeze, make sure the walks are shoveled and/or kept free of ice. It’s especially important that you clean out all gutters from dead leaves and debris so that if it rains, the water is channeled properly. Otherwise, it can overflow onto walkways and freeze. You certainly don’t want anyone slipping on their way to the open house! (Adding evergreens can bring a hint of color, but weigh the cost with your budget before deciding. Also, some trees don’t transplant well in cold weather.)

Second, refresh the front side of your house. Depending on your home’s construction, sometimes just a power washing can help brighten the entry way. Rain and wind and blowing dirt can cling to walls and add a film of grime that makes your front look dingy. A good power wash is worth the time, but please make sure you’re not using settings so strong as to damage or remove the paint.

If the soap and water didn’t make that much difference, consider a new coat of paint around the front windows, doorway and trim. Paint is still one of the best, less expensive ways to make something look new and shiny. Check the weather forecast to make sure you’re not painting on a rainy or windy day. Also, keeping your front windows clean will add a touch of sparkle.

Third, add some lighting. Since the winter months bring with them less daylight, you may find that some potential buyers are touring your home at dusk or even later. It might be wise to add some inexpensive, strategically-placed outside lights to highlight a specific shrub or design. You can also place them along the walkway to help people find their way. You can buy very inexpensive solar footlights at many discount chains. They don’t require any wiring or electrical costs.

Cold weather can make selling your home in the winter a little more challenging. It can diminish the curb appeal of your home, however, by following these three steps, you can regain that edge and make your front yard more than presentable. The steps are cost-saving and easy to complete, and can make a big difference in the time it takes to get that first offer. Allen TX realtor Rajan Mathai can help you to develop and execute on a good plan to sell your home in the winter; give him a call at 214-649-5086 today.