Fabricproperty How to sell your home in winter

Jan. 31, 2011 - PRLog -- Selling a home during the winter months can be a challenge but there are certain steps you can take to turn the dreary, cold weather to your advantage. Winter seems to go on a long time, in fact it can often be snowing in March, but the property market, especially in prime central London, is now global so things don’t slow down just because it is a bit cold in the UK.

www.fabricproperty.com, a luxury lifestyle and property portal owned and populated by more than 30 of the most successful and well-known agents in central, north and north west London, are experts at selling property in every weather condition. Here we reveal their hints and tips for luring in those looking for a new home during the winter months.

Beat the big chill
White, fluffy snow may make a lovely photograph but if your home is photographed in the snow and is still on the market by spring, it will look terribly dated advises www.fabricproperty.com agent Philip Green, Director at
Goldschmidt & Howland.

“We sell many homes for clients who don’t actually live in the property and that can be a problem during the winter,” says Green. “We advise to keep the heating on a low level all the time to stop the pipes freezing up. If you are not always at home when the agent is showing a potential buyer around, make sure you put the heating on a timer to come on at least 30 minutes before they are due to arrive to make the property warm. Similarly, set lights on a timer as there is nothing worse than viewing a cold dark house.”

Hospitality always goes a long way on a cold day. “Offer a tea or coffee to viewers but apart from offering refreshments, stay out of the way and let the agent get on with it. Be ready for any questions and do your best to be helpful and above all honest,” says Graham Harris, Director at Harris Latner, member of www.fabricproperty.com. “Let your agent know before the viewing if there are any problems accessing the property, and do what you can to clear any snow or ice from parking areas and pavements to make sure it is safe to approach and walk round.”


Let there be light
If the agent is showing the house in the daylight, make as much use of the natural light as possible by pulling back the curtains and letting light run throughout the property. As soon as it gets dark, there is nothing better than an open fire so if you have one, make sure you use it to get that really warm feeling. If you are selling an apartment or home without a fire, candles can also create a very cosy feel.





Vivienne Harris, Managing Director and owner of Heathgate, member of www.fabricproperty.com says: “It is very important to make sure rooms are illuminated with either overhead lighting or with soft, ambient light coming from lamps and wall lights. If prospective buyers are coming after the sun has gone down, make sure the front of your house is adequately lit –turn on your porch light if your have one and consider illuminating the path to your front door if there are steps or if it’s tricky to navigate. Also consider some outdoor lighting for your garden, especially if it’s well maintained.”


Keep it clean
If it has been raining or snowing outside, the last thing you want is viewers trailing mud throughout your house. “I advise my clients to offer some sort of slipper or protective layer to put over footwear because it indicates a pride of ownership and that the property is being meticulously looked after. Buyers will appreciate the fact that dirt is not being dragged around their potential new home,” adds Philip Green.

Finally, the winter is a great time to sell a property with little or no outside space. However, if your property does have a garden, show it off to its best ability by clearing away any toys or garden furniture that are not in use. “House hunters may not want to brave the elements by going outside so make sure the windows that look out to the garden are clean so people get a good view,” says Green. “If your potential buyer does want to look outside, the agent should make this the last stop on the tour and ask the buyers to leave by a side entrance, after all you don’t want to be cleaning up muddy footprints after each viewing.”



Top tips for selling your home in the winter at a glance

•   If the viewing is taking place while you’re not there, put heating and lighting on a timer to come on at least 30 minutes before your viewers arrive to warm the property up.
•   Don’t have your property photographed in the snow; it will date it very quickly.
•   Make as much use of daylight hours as possible by leaving curtains open.
•   Create a cosy feeling with an open fireplace, candles and lots of tactile cushions.
•   Inform your agent if there are any problems accessing your property because of bad weather.
•   Offer slippers or a protective layer to put over footwear to keep carpets and flooring clean.
•   Make sure the windows that look out to the garden are clean so people get a good view if they don’t want to brave the elements.
•   Make sure the front of your house is adequately lit. Turn your porch light on and consider illuminating your path.
•   Offer hot drinks to warm up potential buyers.

ENDS

About www.fabricproperty.com
www.fabricproperty.com is a luxury lifestyle and property portal for north and north west London. At its heart is an extensive property search engine powered by London’s most well-connected estate agents. Browsers can also view video tours of some of the Capital’s most breathtaking homes for sale, as well as watch

‘Be inspired’ videos that are packed full of interior design inspiration and home-related tips.  www.fabricproperty.com also features detailed area guides, celebrity interviews and lifestyle features, specifically created for north and north west London.