Will Buyers Still Want to See My Home in the Snow?

With the recent winter weather warnings around the Pacific Northwest, you may be worried if your house is on the market and Snow completely covers your property. But you really shouldn't freak out that much. When buyers have to buy, whether usually means nothing. If buyers are in the market, they may actually benefit from seeing your home covered in a blanket of snow. True, they can't see all of the landscape details, but they can get a better sense of how well constructed the property is in winter weather. If they notice that the decks, porches, or exterior stairs are sagging, slippery, or leaking, this can be a big no-no so buyers are really going to be aware of all these little details on your home, especially if they choose to brave the weather and had out.

Speaking of braving the weather, you're probably not going to get a lot of lookee loo's if there are a few inches of snow on the ground. These are going to be serious buyers so don't get lackadaisical on keeping the home staged and clean. Buyers are still going to want a beautifully staged home regardless of what the weather outside is doing.

For this reason, we should also keep in mind buyer and agent safety. If you know you're going to have buyers make sure that your front porch, sidewalks, driveways, and steps are completely clean and clear of any snow or ice. The last thing you want is to have a lawsuit at the last minute or deal with homeowners' insurance while your home is trying to sell. Keep things clean, tell your listing agent to inform of the buyer's agent of any stairs or hazardous walkways, and make sure that trees or bushes are not going to dump a mountain of snow on any visitors.

So, don't worry too much about winter weather. If buyers are serious they are going to make the track to visit your home. And, now might be a great time to brag about some of the weather protective features of your home such as extra insulation, weather-stripped windows, and doors, or the stability of decks and foundations.

Thinking about selling? Want to buy in the Portland or Vancouver area? Start your online search on my website for free or Contact Us to schedule a showing at any time.