Many homeowners believe attempting to sell their places during winter is a losing proposition. Real estate agents, however, know any season is the right one when a property is attractive and represents a great value. In our market, where there is a lack of inventory, the opportunity to sell your El Dorado Hills home this winter may even be better than waiting until Spring! With inventory lower than even is typical during the cold weather months, it is actually a perfect time to sell your El Dorado Hills home this winter. Of course, it never hurts to set the stage — or sweeten the pot, if you will — by evoking a warm and welcoming vibe that makes would-be buyers want to hang up their coats, kick off their boots, and stay a while, imagining their future life in your beautiful home! There’s no denying it’s cold out there, so why not make it work for you? The following are amenities that prove winter really can be the most wonderful time of the year.
1. Fire pit
Create a cozy outdoor space with the help of a fire pit. Who doesn’t picture themselves sitting around a warm fire injoying a hot drink in the winter? Whether the fire pit made of stone and serves as a permanent fixture or is a movable and affordable centerpiece for backyard S’mores-making, a fire pit ups the charm factor immediately.
2. Hot tub
Wait, is this a home or a five-star resort? Watching steam rise from a frothy hot tub on a chilly afternoon or evening after a day of skiing in the local mountains or being stuck indoors will make anyone want to move right in! Giving your place the spa treatment will remind buyers that when you can can be warm and cozy, winter can last as long as it likes.
3. Home theater
When stuck indoors during the winter, and particularly on cold, wet weekends, playing up indoor entertainment features does wonders for your buyer’s peace of mind (especially if they have young children!). A home theater, or even a dedicated media room (think flat screen and an old-fashioned popcorn maker), helps visitors envision themselves and their families surviving those endless rainy cold days in style!
4. Fireplace
Everyone has fond themselves staring into the flames of a roaring fireplace. It’s almost impossible to resist the hypnotic allure! According to the National Center for Real Estate Research, fireplaces have a positive impact on the selling price, with each fireplace adding about 12 percent. So not only will firing up the fireplace help sell your El Dorado Hills home this winter more quickly, it also helps you sell it for more money!
5. In-home wine bar
Baby, it’s cold outside — so why leave the house? Your wine bar is one way to keep spirits merry and bright. It also conjures up thoughts of hosting holiday parties and gatherings as new owners envision celebrating and showing off their place to their friends and new neighbors!
6. Hot cocoa bar
Of course not everyone drinks wine. No less festive, a hot cocoa bar offers a sweet welcome all ages can enjoy. Placed in the kitchen, dining room, family room, or foyer, this treat station makes your buyers feel comfortable and right at home. And who doesn’t love the smell of hot cocoa on a cold winter day?
7. Wood-burning stove
In today’s energy efficient homes, wood stoves stoves represent a great way to help heat the home while also adding the charm of a fire. A stove’s timeless appeal will charm visitors at the same time is warms your home. Thanks to advancements in technology, wood stoves are more energy efficient than ever and help decrease energy costs, too!
8. Home steam room or sauna
OK, this one might be a stretch for most homes. Still, you might be surprised how many buyers love the idea of a sauna or steam after a hard workout or when coming inside from the cold. Get your buyers to envision steaming away their cares while enjoying the health benefits that include improved circulation, detoxification, and even sinus relief!
9. Storm survival kit
In El Dorado Hills, this one might not be necessary. Still, we know how many of you have a second home up near Tahoe or elsewhere in the Sierra, so don’t completely ignore this one! Offering a highly-desirable and perhaps necessary item can increase interest from buyers. In a snowy mountain climate, there are few tools as sought-after as a good snowblower! Want to keep the enticement more affordable? Heavy-duty snow shovels, high-end gloves, rock salt, and de-icer are all necessities in a mountain home! First-time mountain home-buyers who may be snow-removal newbies will appreciate this gesture and are much more likely to remember your home when deciding which home is perfect for them!
10. Highlight energy efficient upgrades
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In addition to being comfortable temperature-wise, if a home is as energy-efficient as possible, that’s something buyers will definitely want to know — and remember. Create a list of any upgrades to windows, doors, HVAC units, and the roof, as well as the installation of energy-saving appliances to show buyers they will have more money in buyer their pockets and less going out the drafty window! Before any of this comes into play, yo first have to understand the advantages in front of you when you choose to sell your El Dorado Hills home this winter! Less inventory (read: competition) in an already tight market and serious buyers who want or need to move now make selling your home during the winter much more appealing than you might think at first!
