While some people look down on it, selling your home in the winter can actually be a great experience. Buyers this time of year are more serious, and with a currently low inventory, Real Estate in Ottawa is advantageous for sellers. Many homes sold in the winter months have had multiple offers, and have sold for above-asking price.

To ensure your home gets the attention it deserves, it is important to remember that first impressions mean everything. Many people only focus on the inside of the house by revamping or staging the space. With such a focus on outside space during the last year of the pandemic, sellers must tend to their outside space. Here are 5 ways to elevate your curb appeal and make your home stand out above all on the Ottawa MLS.

 

Maintain Your Property

Just as you would tackle your gardens in the summer or rake up leaves in the fall, winter months need outdoor grooming too. Ensure your driveway and any pathways around the property are clear of snow and are looking tidy. Keep any stairs free of snow and ice, and lay salt on slippery surfaces to ensure the safety of yourself and visitors. 

Having the snow around your home groomed for both photos and visits will show the home is well maintained and provide buyers with more intrigue. 

 

Add Some Colour

Beautiful gardens make your home stand out in the summer months, but getting the same pop of colour in the winter requires creativity. Elevate your porch or garden beds with planters filled with winter greens and spruced up with vibrant fabrics or sprigs of dried flowers. The added colour will bring warmth to your outdoor space and amplify the curb appeal. 

 

Tend Your Garden Beds

If the snow on your property is light, you may have exposed garden beds. Covering them with mulch to hide dead plants can provide a more attractive and groomed appeal to potential buyers. Fixing up the edging around the gardens, if possible, can also help to make your home stand out above its competitors.

 

Outdoor Lighting

Outdoor lighting in the winter months can be both practical, and aesthetically appealing. With shorter days giving fewer hours of sunlight to showcase your home, adding outdoor lighting can go a long way. Including lights to paths around your home can highlight the labour of love you put into maintaining your property. Keep outdoor lighting on in darker hours, and look into adding spotlights to highlight any notable features of your home. Having beautiful trees or the brickwork of your home lit up at night can ensure your home becomes the showstopper you know it to be at all times of the day.

 

Mind Your Backyard

While most people limit outdoor winter maintenance to the front yard, when it comes to selling in the winter, the backyard is just as important. Shovel off any decks or patios, add in lighting, and be sure to show any features that buyers find appealing. Amplifying your space both indoors and out is essential when trying to sell a house, even in the winter months.