Santa Fe temperatures may be chilly, but the Santa Fe real estate market is staying hot.
In an article published January 1 in the Santa Fe New Mexican, Barker brokers Stephanie Duran and Juli King from Team Duran/King noted that low inventory and high demand have kept the winter market active and seller-friendly.
As Team Duran/King told the Santa Fe Mexican, “Normally, the amount of listings coming on the market during the winter season seems to really slow. Because the housing market is so strong right now, and the impact of the Omicron variant has created more uncertainty, we are finding that Sellers are deciding not to wait to list until the spring.”
“Buyers are also not taking a break from house shopping. The need continues to be strong, while inventory remains very low.”
Team Duran/King offered this advice for the winter home seller: Get ahead of the spring market and use some key strategies for marketing your home during the winter.
We pulled together some of our best tips for winter home selling.
Clear a Path to Your Home
Make it easy for homebuyers to reach your home by clearing snow and ice from all walkways and steps. Be sure to shovel and de-ice the driveway and all entrances leading to your home.
No snow on the ground? Be sure your walkways are neatly swept of all leaf and foliage debris.
Winter days in Santa Fe can be overcast. Turn on exterior lights before home showings to brighten the view as homebuyers find and enter your home.
Many homesellers prefer people to remove their footwear before viewing a home. Not everyone finds it easy to stand while shucking their shoes or boots. Provide a couple of chairs inside the entryway so that homebuyers can seat themselves to remove footwear.
Green Up Your Listing Photos
High-quality, professional photos are a must for every home listing. Because beautifully green landscapes attract buyers online, find spring- or summertime images of your home’s exterior and outdoor living spaces to include your listing.
Your Barker broker can help you display these seasonal images in your home so that buyers can see them during home viewings.
Create a Warm Atmosphere
Another winter selling tip is to set your thermostat at a higher temperature setting so that the comfort of warmth will envelop buyers when they come in from the cold.
If your home has a fireplace, make a fire or turn on the gas log to create a cozy ambiance. Additional winter home staging ideas include arranging throws over couches and beds and using warm or bright colors for accent decor like pillows.
Leverage the Light
To show off your home in its best light, use the power of light. Try to arrange viewings for daylight hours. No matter what time of day, make sure to turn on all lights inside your home before a viewing. Use lightbulbs that cast a warm glow.
Some advanced cleaning will go a long way to brighten your home. Clean windows inside and out to allow more sunlight into your home. Open all shades and curtains to flood rooms with natural light.
Remove Holiday Decorations
Decluttering and depersonalizing are important steps in prepping your home for sale. As you work through this step, take down and store holiday decor inside and outside of your home. Be sure to put away holiday gifts that may still be lingering under a tree. Don’t forget about stowing away holiday cards you might have displayed or collected.
