Need to Sell Your Home this Winter?

Staging Ideas That Work Wonders During Winter: Stand out with some 

home staging here is a few little tweaks that make your place shine like that crown jewel you know it can be. Winter is the time of year when most home buyers, like bears, retreat to their own cozy homes and hibernate. So what if you have a house you must sell right now, winter be damned?

Despite what you've heard, winter can actually work to a home seller's advantage. So before you throw up your hands and take a home-selling hiatus, try these home-staging ideas for the winter months to make your house stand out.

Don't skimp on curb appeal
If you live in a snowy climate, you know there's little you can do about the white stuff piling up outside. But you can stay on top of your yard maintenance, so buyers have an easy path to your front door and walk away with a feeling that your place is easy to maintain. Shoveling the driveway and paths to your home is a must. And you'll want to clean out your gutters, so ice isn't backing up and giving the impression that you have roofing issues.

You can also add some winter-themed outdoor decor.

If you can, now's also the time to make sure your front door has a fresh coat of paint. A bright, colorful front door will stand out all the more in the snow, and that can really wow your buyer.

Turn up the heat
Many homeowners like to keep the thermostat set down in the 60s to save on their heating bills, but you don't want a potential buyer to think they're visiting a house that's hard to heat.

Fire up the fireplace
Not only is it a good way to ensure the house feels warm, but making use of the fireplace is a good way to show off a great feature of your home. No fireplace? Play up the warm ambience with candles, fur throws, and other items that give off cozy vibes.

Add seasonal scents
It's always wise to clean your house and make the place smell nice and fresh, but the winter months are a time to focus on seasonal scents. That means mulling seasonal spices such as oranges, cloves, and cinnamon on the stove, to go along with freshly baked holiday cookies cooling on a rack in the kitchen. Music should also be seasonal, though not too heavy on the silly Santa songs. Some smooth jazz that evokes the festive feel of holiday entertaining.

Pump up the holiday decor
The holidays can actually make it easier to sell a home, if you decorate well. 

'The main reason is that buyers like to picture themselves in the home hosting holiday get-togethers, and it's much easier to show them the potential of a house when it's decorated for the winter months.' We recommends a big wreath with a bright red bow on the front door and some (electric or battery-operated) candles in the windows. And if the holidays are over, and you're still showing your home, remove the decor immediately! 

If you’re thinking about putting your house on the market, To make the most of your new listing, take care of these items first. Do a Walk-Through With a real estate professional like Carriene Porter of Precision Realty & Associates, you’re guaranteed to get the expertise and advice you need. Give us a CALL 801-809-9866 today..

Purchasing your Dream Home, know what your number?
To determine how much you can afford, these are the two important guidelines most lenders use:

The Housing Expense Ratio = Ideally, your mortgage payment (principal, interest, taxes and mortgage insurance) should be less than 28% of your monthly gross income.

The Debt-to-Income Ratio = In most instances, your combined debt (credit cards, student loans, alimony, child support, car loans and housing expenses) should be less than 45% of your monthly gross income.

In addition to these key ratios, all the following will play a role:

Your income. You can get a very rough estimate of your affordable home price range by multiplying your annual gross income by 2.5 (this, of course, varies depending on current interest rates, your debt and credit history).

• Your credit. 
• Current mortgage rates. 
• Your downpayment.
• What's more, it's possible to put down as little as 3%.
• The type of home. 
• Fees and closing costs. 

Visit our mortgage calculators, for more information and resources about buying and owning a home. As always, reach out to your lender to get the full picture of what you can afford.

Not quite ready to buy a home?  You may qualify for the Lease with a Right to Purchase program.  Call me and I'll give you the details on how you may qualify to get into the home you want, get settled and then purchase it when you are ready!

#LeasePurchase #UtahRealEstate #Homeownership