When you’re trying to sell your home in a place like Denver, it’s wise to look for ways that you can spend a small amount of money and make a big visual impact on your potential buyers. It’s widely known that first impressions count, so curb appeal, or what someone can see as they pull up to your home, is a big deal. It’s equally important to consider what your prospective buyers will see as they stand and wait for the front door to open – they’re taking in what it would be like to sit on this front porch and whether they can see themselves living there for years to come. During the summer, there’s a fairly standard way to decorate and make such a space comfortable, but what should you do during the winter? Here are some great ideas:
- Decorate with a simple conversation set or just decorate a single porch swing. A lot of furniture can obscure how large and roomy a porch is, and even for a small porch, it’s helpful to just put a little bit of furniture to make it look like there’s room to enjoy the porch.
- Drape cozy blankets and wintery throw pillows on the furniture to showcase that, on mild winter days, this is a place to curl up with one’s mug of tea and enjoy the outdoors. Using a variety of textile textures while keeping colors close to the color of the house or in complementary colors is a great way to add daring and personalization without changing the overall cohesion of a design.
- The little things matter: a new or nearly-new door mat, well-swept flooring, and no cobwebs or stains are all great ways to make your decoration go from fine to great.
- Consider a simple winter wreath or a welcome sign, but too much personalization, like signs that say “Such-and-Such Family Welcomes You” can take a buyer out of the experience. Since you want them to envision themselves living there, you can include a few warm decor touches that will make them imagine their life there rather than remind them that someone else lives there.
- Evergreen branches, wreaths, or potted trees can be a nice way to bring green into your design. Even better, these plants look absolutely picturesque if it happens to snow right before your showings or open house!
- Make sure that the communication elements of your front porch are effective: a functional doorbell is better than one that needs a little sign saying, “doesn’t work,” and a simple door knocker can be a great option if you worry you won’t hear when people arrive. It’s little stuff, but first impressions are important!
With these little choices, as well as attention to your yard and front walk, you give your potential buyers the best possible first impression even when you’re selling your home in the off-season. To envision how long it will take to sell your home in the winter, you can consult with a trusted real estate agent to learn more about what this season has been looking like for sellers in your area.
