Selling your home in winter has some benefits. The housing market is flooded with homes in the warmer months, so when the colder months come along, there are fewer options for buyers. Serious buyers will be more willing to pay asking price instead of trying to negotiate a deal. Since options are limited in winter, you may also attract more buyers looking for a new home. Here are some tips for selling your home for top dollar during winter.

Do Your Research

When buyers are looking at homes, they typically are viewing 10-15 at a time, sometimes more. This means they have some knowledge about similar homes and their asking prices. Don’t settle on the first offer that comes through the door without doing your research first. Be mindful when setting your asking price, since pricing too high or too low can turn potential buyers away. Research homes in the area with similarities to yours and compare the asking price. If a buyer comes in with a good deal, don’t pass it up, but don’t agree to the first number on your desk if it’s not what you were expecting.

Clean it Up

Cleaning should be an obvious way to sell your home for top dollar during winter but clean your home! This means everything and everywhere. Scrub the walls down, dust the places that haven’t been cleaned in ages, sweep and mop the floors—if it is in your home, it should be cleansed! Be sure to clean the places you wouldn’t usually think about cleaning, including the tops of cabinets and other hard to reach areas.

Cleaning opens the door to decluttering. Since you’ll be moving, you can pack away some of the non-essential things you have around the house. Don’t leave it too barren though, as it can feel unwelcoming.

Decluttering also goes for the yard. A well-kept lawn can increase the value of your home so ditch the lawn ornaments and decorations and get a mow in before the first frost. Keep leaves off the yard too, so you can avoid patches of dead grass, which will turn buyers. If it is snowy in your area, keep sidewalks and stairs free of snow and ice.

Know Who’s Buying

You can gain an advantage in negotiations by learning about the buyer. Knowing information like how quickly they need to move if they have the money for your asking price, and the motivation for buying a new home can give you an edge in negotiations since you will then know how hard you can push to get your best price.

Don’t Move Before Selling

If you can help it, don’t move before selling! An empty house is unlikely to make a buyer feel at home when viewing. Keep decorations simple, and since you’re selling in winter, cozy it up a bit. A warm fireplace and a couch with comfy throw blankets are welcoming and will help potential buyers picture themselves in the home, nice and cozy by the fire.

Selling in winter may make it more likely to get your asking price without having to negotiate. However, if you are unsure, there are a few tips for selling your home for top dollar during winter. The first and most obvious is to clean it up from top to bottom. Scrub and shine every nook and cranny and then tackle the yard. Knowing the motivation behind your buyer’s interest and how quickly they need to move will help you in negotiations. Keep your house looking like a home until you have a buyer since an empty home attracts fewer buyers. Sellers want their asking price for their home, or close to it, and these are just a few ways you can achieve a top-dollar sale on your home during winter.