If you've decided that you wish to sell your house during the winter, you need to ensure that it's as presentable as possible during open houses. Many buyers opt to get into the market once spring arrives, meaning that your interest during the winter may be a little light. For this reason, it's important to do all that you can to make people fall in love with your home the minute they pull into the driveway — and that the good vibes continue when they enter the home and begin to walk around. This can play a key role in your ability to sell your home quickly. Here are some winter-related tasks to make sure you complete.

Make The Driveway And Walkway Safe

A prospective buyer who slips and falls on your driveway or front walkway may quickly lose interest in attending the open house. He or she may end up with a minor injury or may just be annoyed at the inhospitable nature of your yard and decide to leave right away. You can avoid these risks by making sure these areas aren't treacherous. Shovel the driveway and walkway carefully to remove all the snow and ice, and put down a combination of salt and sand to provide traction. If there are some slippery areas, make a sign pointing out the hazard.

Replace The Front Mat

When you and your family have wet winter boots, they'll often sit on the floor mat inside the front door. As the snow and ice melt, the mat will get saturated with water. When people attend the open house, remove their boots, and step onto the mat with their sock feet, they may end up with wet feet — and this doesn't send a very hospitable message to prospective buyers. Additionally, if their feet are really wet, they'll leave wet footprints on your floor. You can avoid this problem by replacing the front mat with a clean, dry one before you leave before the open house.

Decorate With Lights

The winter months tend to be dreary, but you can make the interior and exterior of the house more cheery with the simple addition of some strings of lights. Even if it's not Christmastime, lights can be appropriate — just make sure to use white lights so things don't risky looking tacky. A string of white lights on the tree in your front yard can welcome guests to the open house, while some lights on a buffet or in a bay window can also be appealing.

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