Winter Curb Appeal DOES Matter: Boost Yours with TheseTips

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Best Winter Curb Appeal Ideas from 18 ProfessionalsDecember 17, 2015 Luke Skar Leave a comment

Table of Contents

Tips from the ProfessionalsWhat Top Real Estate Pros are SayingNortheast Winter Curb Appeal TipsSoutheast Winter Curb Appeal Tips

Midwest Winter Curb Appeal TipsSouthwest Winter Curb Appeal TipsNorthwest Winter Curb Appeal TipsSouth Africa Winter Curb Appeal Tips

Unlike fall, winter curb appeal has a different focus. During the months of fall, a home can be decorated with arange of colors and easily look inviting to a casual passerby. However, in order to make a home look appealing in thewinter, there are different tactics necessary to attract potential buyers.

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While it may seem that spring and summer are the only times to sell a home, keep one thing in mind: There areALWAYS a few people looking to buy a home, regardless of the time of year. With job promotions, children movingout, new marriages, divorces and countless other reasons, circumstances change during the year for lots of people.Many of these changes result in someone or some family looking for a new place to hang their hat. If you are tryingto sell a home then the following list can help you increase your home’s winter curb appeal and entice a buyer tosign a contract with you.

Keep the Property Safe

Before discussing the exterior improvements that add aesthetic appeal, we need to discuss functional safety. It reallywon’t help to spend time and money improving the looks of your home if people are afraid to walk along the sidewalkor step on the porch.

You can never have too much light – in the winter months the days are short and it gets dark before mostpeople can get home. Since real estate agents are typically meeting prospective clients after their workdayends, it is important to have good lighting. This includes lights along the outside walkway, on the porch andeven at the rear of the home. Make sure the garage lights are working and if you have any motion-sensorlights then it is time to replace the bulbs.

Make steps and handrails user friendly – If you have steps leading to the front door of your home, makesure they are in good condition. Wood can rot over time and will break at the worst possible time. Also, testout the strength of the handrails and make sure they are safe to use.

Remove snow – If you live in a place that frequently gets a lot of snowfall make sure the snow is shoveledfrom the driveway and walkway before buyers arrive. Ensure any exterior steps are free of snow. Also, as anadded touch, get rid of as many icicles hanging on gutters or the roof.

Keep all debris removed – Keep out an eye for fallen limbs and piles of leaves. This may seem like a bit ofextra work but it will improve the home’s look and keep visitors safe as they walk along the driveway andsidewalk to view your property.

Add Color

The winter months are filled with cloudy skies and overall dreary looking days. Adding some color in key spots willhelp your home stand out from other sellers and hopefully help the home sell faster.

Bright Door – One simple way to add some color is to repaint the front door and/or the trim around the door.A bright red, yellow, or blue can really add a bit of splash to the home. You can also get a nice wreath anddoormat that has some colors to add a bit more spice.

Plants and pots – Since the winter is missing the color of spring a simple fix is to get some nice, bright potsand add some plants designed specifically for winter. Species like juniper, blue holly, barberry, boxwood andred-twig dogwood are able to stay green throughout the year. Placing some of these plants near the door andalong the walkway will add to the instant appeal of the home.

A post box to remember – If your community or neighborhood will allow it, consider adding some color tothe post box in front of the home. You could paint it to match the new color on the front door and coordinate itwith a complimentary color.

Invite birds to the home – At first glance, this may sound strange, but it can have a positive impact on thehome’s look. By adding bird feeders or a bird garden, you can attract these beautiful creatures to your homeat various times of the day. A bright red cardinal or sharp blue jay can create a stunning image against a snowcovered bush or porch and leave visitors with something to remember.

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Colors on the chairs – If your home has a front porch big enough for a rocking chair, consider putting out acouple of chairs that have some bright colors. Althoughthe winter weather may not be conducive for sitting out onthe porch, potential buyers can see themselves in thoseexact chairs when the snow melts and the flowers start tobud.

Small Details that Matter

Besides the color and safety issues there are small things thatmost people can do to a home to make it seem inviting.

Do a deep cleaning – Either do some pressure washingof the exterior walls and walkway or hire someone to doit. This deep cleaning will reveal the true color of thehome’s walls and make the driveway/walkway lookfresher.

Trim trees and bushes for the house – It is smart tolook at the trees and bushes around the home and trimthem in a pattern that will accent the home. Bushesshould be cut at the same height and stop just belowwindows to add more focus to the actual window. Treebranches need to be cut in a way that the form almost aframe that draws the visitor’s eye to the home.

Repair the fence and especially the gate – If yourhome has any type of gate, whether it is in front of thehome or in the rear, take time to ensure the gate swingsfreely. Repair or replace the latch or hinges. Make sure the gate is easy to open and close for any averageadult. Remove any vines or other clutter from the fence.

Replace your existing house number with new digits – Make a trip to the local hardware store and getsome large numbers that are made in a nice, easy to read font. The large numbers will stand out to peopletrying to find the property and their new shine will be pleasing to the eyes.

Scrub all the windows – In the chance that a prospective buyer visits your home in the evening, it is a surebet that grimy windows will be a big turn off. The dirt will be easy to see at night with the lights of the homeshining out to the yard. Take some time and invest some elbow grease and a good cleaning solution to get ridof dirt, fingerprints and anything else that is keeping your windows from sparkling.

Stop mud from getting in the home – In the winter months filled with snow and rain, there is one constant:MUD. Instead of trying to rely on a doormat that will likely be overwhelmed in a matter of days, install ascraper for boots. These items are usually made of iron in order to withstand the elements and can be easilycleaned.

Take a conservative approach to holiday decorations – Everyone has a different idea of how a homeshould be decorated for Christmas. Some people go all out with lights around the exterior of the home alongwith yard decorations and other items. Other people prefer a simple wreath on the door and a classic tree inthe living room. Since you have no idea what your buyer will prefer err to the side of caution and keep thingssimple during the holidays.

Ideas to Help a Home Look Unique

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If you are of the mind to spend some extra money to really make your home unique, here are a few ideas that willreally change the curb appeal.

Embellishments for the garden – if your home has any shrubs or flowers planted around the perimeter ofthe home it is a good chance that some of these items will lose their color in the winter. Consider adding somebright colored items among the plants to add a bit of splash. Orbs that are silver or gold can really add a nicetouch to the area. You may also consider adding a short flag pole in the garden that can hold a seasonalbanner.

A lantern out front – If your home has a fence around the front of the home, a nice wrought iron lanternhanging on a wooden post can add a homey feel to the property. The lantern can be electric, gas-powered oreven work off a battery.

Lights at the driveway entrance – If you live in an area without much street lighting it may be tough forpeople to find your home in the evening hours. A light atop a post on either side of the driveway can be abeacon to visitors and add warmth to the home’s general look.

Hopefully this list has shown that you can increase your home’s curb appeal in the winter months and provide youwith an opportunity to entice a potential buyer to take advantage of your lovely home.

Winter Curb Appeal Tips from the Professionals

In order to give you the best information available about getting a home ready to sale we

contacted some experts on the topic. Listed below are tips provided to us by some of the best minds in the areas of

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decoration and home staging.

We have some advice from Diana Hadchity Chedrawy, an internationally renown decorator and designer. As ownerof the magazine Leovan Design, she provides advice and inspiration for presenting homes in their best light forenjoyment as well as for sale.

Another contributor is Red Barrinuevo, owner of Redesign4more. Using his extensive background in sales andmanagement, Red has combined this knowledge with his passion for home design to become a recognized expert inthe field of home staging.

There are more tips from Lorrie White, owner of White’s Cleaning & Decorating. Lorrie has built her business up tothe point that she operates almost completely from referrrals. Her talents are aimed at helping homeowners improvethe appearance of their property and get it in top shape in anticipation of a sale.

These professionals have agreed to reveal some of the best tactics that they use in order to help you sell your home.

Diana Hadchity Chedrawy | International Designer and Decorator

Diana Hadchity Chedrawy is an international designer and decorator, consultant, writer, and the owner andpublisher of www.leovandesign.com.

As a professional design consultant, Diana started Leovan Design, hoping to inspire others by writing informativearticles that share her design tips and ideas. Diana is regularly interviewed to provide her insights on design trendsand has been featured in lifestyle magazines, e-books, and on design manufacturers websites.

Winter Curb Appeal Tips:

Repaint the exterior of your home in the fall if needed with an environmentally friendly low or non-VOC(Volatile Organic Compound) paint.

Paint your front door red to draw attention to the entrance of your home and to make it more inviting. A homewith a red front door is considered to be good in Feng Shui and will bring good chi energy to your home.

Select the same color scheme and the same materials for the mailbox, house number, outdoor lighting, andfront door hardware for a harmonized and coordinated look.

Plant shrubs that bloom in cold weather to add color to your front yard such as camellia and winter jasmine.

Add holly bushes to your front yard landscape design. They provide great contrast in a snowy landscape.

Plant deciduous trees and shrubs. They don’t loose their leaves over the winter and they add life to yourhome winter curb appeal.

Add evergreen shrubs such as arborvitae, cedars, boxwoods, and junipers. They keep your front yard lookingcolorful and beautiful throughout the winter months.

Add large colorful pots of boxwood evergreen shrubs on your porch, sidewalk, or front deck if you don’t have5/20

bushes planted in your front yard.

Decorate your front door step with a colorful inviting and welcoming mat.

Add outdoor furniture to your front porch to make it inviting and attractive.

Add colorful accessories such as outdoor cushions and blanket to your outdoor porch furniture.

Create a focal point for your front yard such as a garden water fountain, pond, or sculpture. They make goodfocal points in a landscape design all year round and they add style to your curb appeal.

View more curb appeal tips on Diana’s site!

Red Barrinuevo | Award-Winning Home Stager & Redesigner

Red Barrinuevo is a Canadian Certified Staging Professional. He is the recipient of numerous home stagingawards and was picked as one of the Top 10 Professional Stagers of Canada three years in a row. He has workedwith hundreds of Real Estate Brokers, Investors, Real Estate Agents, and has helped home owners showcase theirhomes when it is time to sell.

As President and Principal Stager of REDESIGN4MORE, Red provides home staging and interior decoratingservices for both small and large-scale residential projects throughout Toronto and the GTA. To learn more abouthim, visit his website at http://redesign4more.com/about-us.

Some home sellers do not have the luxury of time to wait until Spring to sell their homes. Though it may be morechallenging to list a property during the Winter, there are several ways to make your home look inviting, warm, andmove in ready for your potential buyers starting with your curb appeal.

Start with your front yard. This is what buyers see from the street, make a great impact right away! Removegarbage containers, recycling bins and other unnecessary items from your front yard. Make sure yourdriveway and walkways are cleared of snow and ice and salted to prevent any accidents. If you don’t havetime to do this, or if you’re away during this time of the year, hire a reputable snow removal company. Yourhome will look well maintained, creating a great first impression for your buyers.

Your front door should say “welcome” to your potential buyers. Repainting and picking the right color for yourfront door can be more visually appealing than a boring non-descript doors. The right door color can makeyour house stand out from competition and can increase interest and motivate potential buyers to step in andsee the rest of the house. Click here for some color suggestions.

Don’t forget your windows. Most showings occur during the day when sunlight reveals how dirty your windowshave become. The harsh winter can cause your window to collect grime which can spoil a great impact, not tomention that it also prevents natural light from shining through inside the house. Plan to periodically have yourwindows washed and cleaned both inside and out.

Use container planters. This a simple addition that can make a big statement and can greatly improve curbappeal. A pair of container sized planters on the front porch, or walk way, can immediately add color and canbrighten up a grey winter day. There are a number of plant options that can survive the winter weather, check

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your local plant store.

Your Holiday decor. Lastly, if you are listing during the Holidays, don’t go overboard. A simple wreath on yourfront door should be enough. Keep your Holiday decor simple. Remove any large inflatable decorations fromyour lawn. Let your buyers focus on your home and not your holiday decor.

See how to maximize your home’s selling power during the fall and winter for more tips!

Lorrie White | Central New York Home Staging Professional

Lorrie White (a.k.a. “The Secret Weapon”) is a highly referred Central New York home staging professional whoset out on her journey back in 1992. Now with a blazing trail of SOLD listings behind her, Lorrie continues on withher mission to compassionately guide home sellers through the overwhelming process of effectively preparing theirhouse for the Real Estate market.

Curb appeal is top subject discussed during each of my staging consultations with home sellers. Many potentialbuyers begin their home shopping process on the internet these days, so your online presentation is everything! Theexterior of the home is usually the first picture seen by potential buyers, becoming the very first impression!! Also,buyers will often drive by a property before they decide whether or not they would like to visit the home for ashowing. Your exterior presentation is the ‘wrapping on the package’, so every detail is absolutely crucial.

The winter season can be a bit more challenging as the surrounding landscape lacks the warmth and color thatother seasons can provide, making the details that much more important. Your overall listing presentation sends avital message to the buyers.

For instance, if pictures of the home display only snow buried walkways, driveway and roof, it could give themessage that the property is not receiving proper maintenance or that it is much too difficult to keep up with theamount of necessary snow removal during the winter. Either impression could potentially scare away your buyerbefore they even step inside the home.

Excessive snow build up also hides the beauty the home’s exterior which is crucial in providing the warmth and colorneeded for the visual presentation during the winter months. Impress your buyers by keeping your driveway,walkways, decks/porches and roof cleared of snow on a regular basis. Be sure to salt the driveway and allwalkways before each showing and open house.

Another tip involves adding more light. Turn on interior/exterior lights during the early evening hours to ‘light up thestage’ for those drive by viewings. A well lit home is very inviting in the evening and can create the same luring affectfrom the road as a lit window display on a store front. It is emotionally capturing, as you give your drive by houseshoppers a little sneak peek of the beauty inside that awaits them!

Keeping these details in mind during the winter months will help to provide your buyers with a welcoming, showready home that is just waiting for them to move right in!! Set the stage and happy selling~

What Top Real Estate Pros are Saying About Winter Curb Appeal7/20

Selling a home during the winter requires the same paperwork as selling a home in the Spring. However, there aresome unique tactics that can help your home stand out from the pack during the winter months in order to draw theattention of the right buyer.

The following advice comes from several successful real estate agents. These agents work in a wide range ofclimates and have contributed some of their successful tips to our blog post. Please review the following informationand see how the right advice from an expert can make a big difference.

Ryan Fitzgerald | Owner/Realtor® at Raleigh Realty

Ryan Fitzgerald is the Owner/Realtor® at Raleigh Realty. Ryan serves the Wake County area of North Carolina,and enjoys writing articles for the Real Estate community to help buyers, sellers and investors make wise decisions.

It doesn’t matter if you’re selling your home in the Summer, Fall, Spring or Winter, you only have one chance to makea first impression. Your curb appeal is going to say a lot about who you are as a homeowner. Some buyers we haveworked with will pull up to a house and instantly change their mind. This tends to be a direct result of your curbappeal.

Selling a home during the Winter poses it’s own set of challenges, and curb appeal is certainly one of them. Leaveshave fallen off trees, and flowers aren’t exactly blooming.

With that being said, the Winter is still a great time to sell your home.

Tips to Keep your Winter Curb Appeal Sexy

Improve Landscaping – Organize bushes, flowers, and othergreenery around the property. Absolutely rake the leaves anddispose of them.

Paint – Add Colors in anyway possible. Whether that meanschanging the color of your front door, or painting the exterior ofyour home, everything needs to be fresh and clean.

Customize to fit the season, Winter. You can add many colorfuldecorations that add to your home’s curb appeal from shinyornaments, to nicely designed winter decor.

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Everything about your home needs to be welcoming and inviting to potential buyers. The winter is typically acolder month so warm up your curb appeal by adding flowers to the front door, or the front porch.

These are a few curb appeal tips you can use to help sell your home in the Winter time!

Bill Gassett | Ashland Massachusetts Real Estate Agent

In an effort to get some of the best home selling tips during the wintertime we reached out to Bill Gassett, One of thetop Real Estate agents in Ashland Mass to get his insight. Bill provided some wonderful insight to our readers withhis tips below.

Luke thanks for having me aboard to provide some of my best winter home selling advice. Winter is certainly a morechallenging time of year for those of us who are in a cold weather climate. Not only do you have the elements to dealwith but typically a buyer pool that is smaller than our prime selling seasons of the spring and summer.

The beauty however of selling in the winter is usually less competition and buyers who are truly motivated topurchase a home. Some of my best winter home selling tips are referenced in the article above but here is a quicksummary:

Keep your walkways cleared for a buyer. The best presentation for most homes is to come through the frontdoor. Don’t assume that sending the buyer in through a side door is acceptable.

Stay on the lookout for ice dams. There is nothing that will turn a buyer off quicker than water penetration in ahome. Buyers often will eliminate a home if they think the possibility exists for mold.

Turn up the temperature in the home to a comfortable setting. Homes are bought and sold on emotion. Makethe experience a pleasant one for the buyer.

Ask the buyer to remove their shoes when entering the home especially when your home is in great condition.This shows your pride of ownership and the fact you care about the property.

Make your marketing material count. Selling in the winter is harder than other seasons because you oftentimes cannot see things like the yard and landscaping. Make sure your marketing material has some shots ofthe springtime. Give them a good idea what your flowers and landscape look like. If you have a pool makesure you showcase this as well.

Above all else make sure you price it right. This of course goes without saying but there are fewer buyers inthe market so making your price competitive is super important!

By following these winter home selling tips you should be well on your way to a successful home sale.

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Chris and Karen Highland | Central Maryland Realtors®

Chris and Karen Highland have been selling real estate (in all four seasons) in Frederick Maryland for 24 years.Karen blogs about all kinds of real estate topics, and Chris even gets to include his opinion now and then. Chris is aRegional Leader for eXp Realty, and Karen shares her time as the Director of Communications at Frederick CountyAssociation of REATORS. You can find them at Frederick Real Estate.

Whatever the season, staging your home is an important part your home selling plan. You want your home to appearin its best state, both inside and outside. If your home is on the market during the winter, there are particularchallenges. In many areas of the country, homeowners have to take measures to maintain a good look on theoutside of their home. Homeowners have to attend to falling leaves, snow-covered driveways, sidewalks and decks,and dead and fading plantings around the yard.

The main thing that a homeowner has to keep in mind, is to present a home that isn’t perceived to be highmaintenance on the outside. When a buyer tours your home and sees a mass of leaves clogging up the gutters, orpiled up in the outside stairwell from the basement, that translates to a lot of work for them. When they see dead andfaded plantings that haven’t been trimmed for the winter, it reminds them of work, not enjoyment. If they have totrudge through a mound of snow to get to the door, they see the work that’s ahead of them, not to mention the safetyissue of slipping on snow and ice.

The best way to present the outside of your home during the winter is to use a little bit of psychology. You want topresent your house as a home that is not only a delight to live in, but a home that is a delight to care for. Takingextra care to keep the outside clean and well-cared for will go a long way to make the buyer see your home in itstrue light.

Kyle Hiscock | Licensed Real Estate Salesperson, e-PRO®, & REALTOR®

For some additional tips on how to boost winter curb appeal, I reached out to Kyle Hiscock, a top Rochester realestate agent with Nothnagle Realtors. Kyle has helped hundreds of buyers and sellers move in, out, and aroundRochester since 2011! Kyle actively writes helpful content on his popular, Rochester’s Real Estate Blog.

Thanks Luke for reaching out to me for some helpful tips for improving winter curb appeal. As your title mentions, itis VERY important to have the exterior of a home looking great during the winter months. There are several tips that

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homeowners can follow to help improve the curb appeal of their home and below are some of the best tips I suggest.

One of the best ways to improve the winter curb appeal is by simply making sure the exterior of your home is cleanand well kept. This means keeping sidewalks, steps, and driveways cleaned. This simple tip can go a long way inimpressing potential buyers of a home. Think about it, what would a buyer think if there was a mountain of snow onthe front steps of a home? Probably that the owners have neglected to maintain the interior of their home just likethe exterior. Something as simple as shoveling snow can go a long way in improving curb appeal during the winter.

Another great tip for improving the winter curb appeal is by adding some festive decorations and lights. I’m notreferring to those huge blow-up figurines you see in some homeowners front yards, but some nice festive lights cango a long way in “setting the stage.” Adding some festive lights can help a buyer envision themselves spending theholidays and winters in your home.

Last but certainly not least, another great way to improve your winter curb appeal is to properly winterize your home. One of the worst first impressions that you can make as a homeowner is by having lawn furniture, even worse alawnmower, buried by snow piles. Other easy ways to improve the curb appeal by properly winterizing your home isby cleaning up the leaves, trimming bushes and shrubs, and by inspecting your roof. These simple tasks show prideof ownership and can go a long way in improving the curb appeal of a home during the winter!

Anita Clark | Warner Robins Georgia Real Estate Agent

Anita Clark provides residential real estate services to both buyers and sellers in Warner Robins GA and thesurrounding communities.

One of the biggest mistakes made by winter-time home sellers is not ensuring their home’s curb appeal sets themapart from the local competition. Regardless where you live, and the type of weather you see in the winter, it is smartto keep the exterior of your home as aesthetically pleasing as possible.

We see mild winter temperatures in my area, so I tell my Bonaire GA real estate sellers to put out winter bloomingflowers to give the home a splash of color and provide an appealing view for buyers who will be visiting. Home sellerscan also take the necessary steps to freshen up their front door (if needed), ensure the yard/flower beds look winterappropriate (i.e. no leftover leaves from fall), and make sure decorations have been removed if the holidays are over.

For consumers who live in areas with snow, it makes sense to keep the driveway, sidewalk, walkway, and stairs freeof snow, ice, and any other winter debris. If you have broken limbs or damaged fencing, it is smart to get those

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issues resolved as quickly as possible so buyers do not get turned off by the outside of your home before they evenstep through the front door.

First impressions are lasting ones, so sellers need to take the necessary steps to put their home in its best light,especially during the winter selling season. If a buyer does not like the home’s curb appeal, the chances of themgetting out of their warm vehicle diminish.

Lynn Pineda | Southeast Florida Real Estate Agent

As a dedicated Real Estate professional, Lynn Pineda sells home in Southeast Florida covering the areas of CoralSprings Real Estate to Boca Raton Real Estate. It’s what she loves to do!

What better way to win the heart of a home Buyer than by making sure your home’s appeal begins at first glance. Afirst glance can be captivating and when Sellers are competing with other homeowners, one’s curb appeal can makeall the difference in locking in the first glance, securing the “I want to find out more”!

It’s the homes that are uninviting that send a prospective home Buyer to their competition. It’s the homes thatcouldn’t care to put forth some effort that send a Buyer on it’s way. It is the home that is so inviting at first glance,that Buyers want to discover more. Let that be your home when you’re selling a home.

Captivate and invite prospective home Buyers and be all the buzz with the below curb appeal suggestions.

Clean your front door – remove the insect remnants and webs. Nothing is worse than approaching a home only todiscover insects squished or trapped in webs on a doors front, hinges, corners and threshhold.

Change handle and lock on front door – the constant, beating-down sunshine that has occurred all summer longhere in South Florida can really do a number on a door’s lock and handle. The finish can quickly be tarnished whenyou experience day after day of bright sunshine and high heat that are all too familiar here in Florida. Sorry, youNortherners if you’re reading this now in the dead of winter and could really use some rays!

Prepare your lawn and landscaping – we’re forever green here in South Florida, so year round maintenance of yourhome’s grass, bushes, hedges and garden beds are a must if your plans are to captivate home Buyers.

Garden bed mulch doesn’t last forever and should be refreshed, plumping up your garden beds. You could alwaystry the newer brown color or go with the traditional red toned color. Remember too that when you layer about 3inches of mulch or more it can discourage those pesty weeds from growing.

Have your hedges and bushes trimmed so they’re uniform and neat. And of course, have your yard freshly cut andedged about every few weeks. During the winter months, you don’t see rampant growth, so you can go longer inbetween cuts.

Finish it all off with a spoof of color near your front door – nothing is better than greeting a Buyer near the front doorwith a potted plant or two full of color and texture or in a nearby garden bed.

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Captivating home Buyers in South Florida can be a lot easier for us than our northern state residents due to oursplendid, tropical climate that enables greenery and color to accentuate a home’s exterior year round. It would bemore difficult to sell a home in the north when the season doesn’t allow you the beauty that we have here. Hats off tomy northern Real Estate Agents who are selling homes in the winter!

Ultimately, don’t be the home that Buyers say, “ It’s not much to look at from the outside”.

Paul Sian | Ohio and Kentucky Real Estate Agent

Paul Sian is a licensed real estate agent in the states of Ohio and Kentucky with over 10 years of experience. Youcan find more of my blog posts at http://www.cincinkyrealestate.com/blog

Wintertime curb appeal is important to pay attention to even if there is snow on the ground. Hopefully you knewahead of time you wanted to sell your home and had the exterior repainted and cleaned in anticipation of the sale. Painting usually can only be done while the weather outside is above a certain temperature; otherwise the quality ofthe paint job cannot be warranted by the painter. Any painter who suggest to you they can paint outside any time ofyear may not deliver results that will hold up. Especially while buyers are coming to look at your home the last thingthey want to see is a peeling paint job.

Here in Cincinnati, Ohio the winter so far has been moderate with no snowfall on the ground. That is not always thecase every year though. Since there is no snow on the grounds and the outdoor temperatures are still not too coldthe landscaping still can be tended to. Make sure any dead plants have been removed, fallen leaves are cleaned upand properly disposed of dead trees removed and the grass had its final cut of the season. Most big box hardwarestores in our area should still have on hand bagged mulch to put down over old mulch to give your landscaping afreshened look.

While you can and the weather permits all exterior windows should be cleaned of dead leaves, cobwebs and more. Old torn or damaged screens should be replaced. If you see any windows whose seals have broken resulting in thefogged window look it is highly recommended that you have those windows changed for new windows. While thebuyer may or may not notice foggy windows the home inspector certainly will and will let the buyers know.

If there happens to be snow on the ground during the time you are reading this then there are still things you can doto ensure the wintertime curb appeal looks good. Make sure snow is cleared from the driveway and walking paths isa must. You don’t want buyers slipping and falling while coming to visit your home and you don’t want buyershindered from seeing all there is to see with your home due to snow or ice. Check around the home and remove

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icicles and other ice build up that is hanging off of the house and poses a risk to people walking around and viewingthe home.

For additional tips for selling your home in the winter check out my article Tips For Selling Your Home In Winter.

Todd Ferris | Greater Indianapolis area Real Estate Agent

Todd Ferris is an agent with the F.C. Tucker Company and co-founder of the Ferris Property Group along with hiswife Megan Ferris. Since 2008, Todd has consistently ranked as one of the top producing agents in the greaterIndianapolis area.

Curb appeal matters! This is especially true in winter when things tend to look drab here in the midwest. First thingsfirst, make sure that home buyers can arrive at your house safely by keeping your driveway, sidewalks, andentryways free from snow and ice. Adding path lights to walkways adds another level of safety. Landscapelighting creates an inviting glow and helps showcase a home’s exterior, which is perfect for winter when it gets darkso early. Buyers will likely visit your home in the evenings and without landscape lighting, they won’t be able to seethe exterior of your home very well. Use your landscape lighting to highlight the architectural features of your homeas well as the beautiful trees in your yard. Finally, add color to your entryway with a winter wreath, door mat, andpots of greenery. There are several plants that do well in winter and can be potted—including ornamental cabbage,kale, and winterberry holly.

View 17 more ways to stage your home in the winter!

Wendy Weir | Michigan Relocation Specialist

Wendy Weir has been in Real Estate 28 years, since 1988. She has made over 7,000 Sales and Referrals. AsDirector of Relocation for Corporate Accounts – her job was making Referrals to other Agents, of Listings and Buyersshe procured, Nationally and Internationally.

Time Consuming and Costly, happen to describe your Fall clean-up – Especially, if you live in South East Michigan.Most Important – Don’t wait too long! Once the last of the leaves have fallen, be READY to Begin Preparing for theWinter Months.

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Your home exterior may not show as well as it DOES … in the Spring or Summerwith all the Flowers Blooming – Right? Wrong! If you Follow a Few good Tips –you can make you Home POP with Curb Appeal!

1st – Remove all the leaves and sticks from the flower beds, and cut back all theRoses, Lillie’s, Butterfly Bushes, Grasses … whatever you have, … and thehardest part of your Job is Done!

Then … Take Advantage of Whatever the Weather Brings – and in Michigan,Weather can change by the hour! – Going from the 20’s to 60’s In November2015 – that’s what we’ve had this year! Here’s a couple of examples …

Lake Snowmobiling, Winter Carnivals, Beautiful Scenery, and All Types of WinterRecreational Activities!!! Properly Presented – YOU can make your Home looklike a ‘WINTER WONDERLAND’!!!

When I used to take a Listing in the Fall or Winter – I made a few Suggestions, tothe Sellers, of how to make their house SPARKLE and be UNFORGETABLE –Remember – it take ONLY ONE Buyer for Your Home!

So consider, setting a Lovely Table for Two by a Big Picture Window to AllowBuyers to FEEL, what it would be like if THEY lived there…

Then – If you want to – REALLY make your home POP! … Start Thinking Out-side the Box! Why not put a Stone Patio in with Built in Bench Seating anda Bonfire Pit in the Middle! How many of your friends have one of these? Thiscosts around $6,000 – but you really get people thinking … WOW, We CouldHave So Much Fun with That!

David Cronin | Indiana Real Estate Agent

David Cronnin is one of the top agents in Indiana and is passionate about helping Hoosiers find their dream homes.David was named Top Solo All-Star Agent by Indianapolis Business Journal, Top Solo Agent for RE/MAX Ability Plus,and was a Five-Star Real Estate Award Winner by Indianapolis Monthly Magazine.

In the winter it can be hard for home buyers to imagine what your house will look like in warmer months. One way todemonstrate how beautiful your house is in spring and summer is through photos. If you have photographs of theoutside of your home that were taken in the summer, display them in an album for home buyers to flip through. Labelthe album and place it somewhere in your house that buyers are sure to see, like the kitchen counter. Be sure toinclude photos of your patio, deck, and yard. Also, leave a fact sheet that describes features of your home that mightnot be showcased in the winter such as your irrigation system, play set, mini barn, or pool. Don’t forget the features

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of your community that may be overlooked in winter, such as the community pool, tennis courts, and playground.

Here is a list of winter maintenance tips to complete before putting your home on the market.

Jeff Knox | Dallas area Real Estate Agent

Jeff Knox is a Broker in the DFW area with a focus on real estate & homes in Frisco TX

Curb appeal 100% matters no matter the time of year. Do not let your home look “dead” during the winter season.Actually, I think the winter is a better time to set your home apart with great curb appeal. While all the other homes inyour area will have dead lawns and landscape, this is a great opportunity for you!

All areas of the country have certain landscape for all seasons, including winter. While you certainly may visit aspecialty nursery for your landscape needs, I’ve found that for basic landscape you cannot beat the big box storeslike Home Depot, Lowes or Ace Hardware. These big box stores offer the best prices for basic landscape during allmonths.

Head to a big box store and pick up some seasonal landscape and maybe some season grasses. For instance, herein Texas we can seed annual ryegrass which will make our yards lush and green even in the freezing temperatures.

Do not exclude the interior of the home either, seasonal poinsettia plants will warm your home and give a buyer agreat feeling of the holidays!

Winter is a great time to sell your home and an even better time to make your home shine with fresh, livinglandscape. Take advantage!

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Debbie Drummond | Las Vegas Realtor®

Debbie Drummond, top producing Realtor® in Las Vegas. Specializing in luxury homes, golf course communitiesand high rise properties.

Luke, thank you for asking me to contribute to this article. We’re lucky with nice year round weather in Las Vegas. Our lawns, palm trees and cacti look good in the middle of Winter.

Some of our desert plants and trees do lose their leaves in the Fall. This can leave your home looking bare. Youmay not want to replace a tree that looks beautiful in the Spring. Consider adding some evergreen plants that willadd some green to the landscape.

Bare trees and shrubs can be a bigger problem if the plants and the leaves were concealing an issue. After theleaves are gone, take a close look at the paint. Is it peeling or chipped? Use some touch up paint if it is.

After the hot Summer, replace any plants that didn’t survive. Keep an eye on the landscaping if temperatures dropbelow freezing. You may have to replace plants that couldn’t handle the cold. If you decorate for the holidays, by allmeans do so. Bright lights can dress up even the trees without leaves.

Our climate lends itself to outdoor entertaining. When staging your home’s exterior, add patio furniture to create anoutdoor living space. A fireplace or firepit with a couple of chairs are a great place to relax while dinner is on the grill.The Las Vegas climate means you can grill most of the year. Buyers from cold climates will love it.

If you price your home right and work with a great Realtor®, your home should be sold before Spring. If it hasn’t,consider hiring the photographer to take new photos. Photos from a season before will tip buyers off that it’s an oldlisting. They’ll wonder why it hasn’t sold and assume there’s a problem with it.

Curb appeal is your first chance to impress a buyer. Taking time to spruce up the landscaping and paint will help yourhome sell faster and for a better price.

Angela Duong | Northern Utah Realtor®

I’m Angela Duong, a Realtor® selling homes in Northern Utah for over 11 years. Check us out on google+.

Thank you for inviting me to contribute to your article, Luke! Here in Utah, our winters can vary from a winterwonderland of snow to just a cold dry one where if there is snow it melts within days. Either way, it’s winter andhaving great curb appeal is a must to getting your home sold during the cold winter months.

With the unknowns of whether we will be snow-covered or not it’s important to be sure that the grass and flower bedsare well kept. Remove all the dead foliage, trim the bushes, and rake up any debris. In the event we are graced withthe beautiful white winter it’s a must to keep the driveway, walk-ways, and even the patio and decks clear of snow fora home buyers optimal outdoor viewing and safety.

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Daylight hours are shortened during the winter. Check your light bulbs and change any that have burned out. Younever know when a potential buyer may be driving by and see that for sale sign in your yard. Stand out by turningthe outdoor lights on during evening hours. Don’t have a lot of lighting? Invest in some white spot lights andstrategically place them to aim at your home. Make them hassle free by putting them on a timer.

Even though Christmas is about over when winter begins doesn’t mean you can’t make your home feel merry andbright. Add some color by painting your door. My absolute fave is red, but if you have say a red brick home, you aregoing to want to pick a different color to compliment that. Head to the stores for the after Christmas sale and buy upsome garland and white led lights. Frame your door with the garland and lights. If you enjoy DIY crafts, you cancreate expensive looking topiaries for cheap. With tomato cages wrapped with garland and lights, you have someevergreen trees to place around your garage and front door. Be sure you stake them down into some colorful flowerpots!

With the right Realtor pricing your home right, great curb appeal, and a de-cluttered home you can get your homesold this winter!

Dan and Becky Seim | Owners of Preferred Residential

Dan Seim and his wife Becky own Preferred Residential, a Bend, Oregon real estate brokerage and managementcompany focused on investors.

The first piece of the winter curb appeal puzzle is pricing your home right. Most potential buyers will see your homeonline first. A big part of the first impression your home makes will be its price. Is the house priced well compared toother homes on the market? If home buyers don’t think your home is priced appropriately then they won’t evenbother to come see it in person. That means all the other things you do to improve its curb appeal will have been awaste of time.

Speaking of a waste of time, yard work might top the list of seemingly silly things to do in December or January. Especially when most of us here in the Northwest do almost nothing to our yards from November through March. However, a freshly mowed lawn with landscaped areas free of weeds, leaves and pine needles could be the thingthat sets your home apart from others that are also for sale.

One thing that could set your home apart from others in a bad way is not having gutters over walk-ways andentrances. No one wants to feel a cold drip of water down the back of their neck as they walk up to a home they areexpected to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for. In Central Oregon, with our 300+ days of sunshine, it is not

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uncommon for builders to cut corners and not install gutters but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a need for them. Gutters are a relatively inexpensive home improvement. Have them installed before listing your home for sale.

Outdoor living space is something that many builders here in Central Oregon don’t cut corners on. It is part of theBend lifestyle and it’s on many buyers’ “must have” lists. If your home has outdoor living space bring the furnitureout of storage or uncover it and set up your deck or patio to look like it does during warmer months. Also be sure toclear those areas of snow so that prospective buyers can envision themselves enjoying the outdoor amenities ofyour home.

Xavier De Buck | Northcliff (Johannesburg) Real Estate Agent

Xavier De Buck, a top-producing Northcliff (Johannesburg) real estate agent with Pam Golding Properties, shareshis knowledge and expertise by assisting buyers and sellers in achieving their life-long dreams of owning property.

Whether you’re in Nevada, Florida, California or even Johannesburg, South Africa, consider yourself lucky that youdon’t have to deal with the traditional 4 seasons. At most, it might approaching freezing temperatures overnight orperhaps not be as warm during the day as it normally is in the summer, but the issues of ice and snow are prettymuch non-existent.

Whereas a homeseller in such winter conditions might struggle to optimally present his home, living in ‘sunshine’places comes with its own problems of presentation. When preparing one’s home for a winter sale, there are a fewthings to keep in mind when it comes to a winter curb appeal.

You only have one chance at making a first impression. A drab winter lawn is very likely to look closer to brown thangreen, but that shouldn’t stop you from keeping the overall garden neat and tidy, by minimally removing all leaves. Atleast give the potential buyers an idea of how the garden would look in spring and summer time. Ideally, one ought tohave planted some evergreen trees or flowers which can liven up these dreary winter landscapes.

Furthermore, with the garden, and trees in particular, appearing to be somewhat bare, the emphasis on having donethe basic maintenance and painting will be pertinent, as minor chipped or faded irregularities in the exterior of thehome will jump out even more. How winter natural light will now need to be considered as a significant element inthe presentation mix!

Even though in winter time, the number of available homes on the market tends to be reduced, it’s important to make

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sure one’s home stands out by creating an inviting atmosphere, and this starts with a proper winter curb appeal.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the real estate agents and other professionals that took time tocontribute to this post. There is a wealth of good information here for sellers, regardless of their location. We hopethis knowledge will bring good luck to you in your plans to sell your home during the upcoming Winter season.

Related Curb Appeal Resources:Tips to Make Your Home Holiday Ready via June SeebohmTip Tips for Winterizing a Vacant Home via RISMedia’s Housecall BlogTop 10 Blogs to Help you Survive the Winter via David MillarCurb Appeal That Sells via Demarco and Marisa FletcherThe Importance of Curb Appeal When Selling Your home via Janis Borgueta7 Ways to Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal via Teresa Cowart

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