Getting Your Home Ready to List in a Minnesota Winter
Homes sell in Minnesota all year, and a winter listing can work well (we've written before about why you should consider selling in the winter). Selling in the snow takes a slightly different game plan, though. Here's how to get your home ready when the thermometer drops.
Start at the curb
- Keep every path clear. Shovel and treat the driveway, the front walk, the steps and the path from the garage every day the home is on the market, not just on showing days. A buyer's first impression starts at the curb.
- Make the house easy to find. Keep the house number, the mailbox and the sign free of snow.
- Plan for early darkness. By late fall it's dark before many people get off work, so most showings happen after sunset. Put the porch and exterior lights on timers, and replace any burned-out bulbs.
- Watch the roof. A roof rake helps keep heavy snow off the eaves. If you see icicles or ice building along the edges, ask us whether it's worth having it looked at before an inspection.
Make the entry work for winter
In winter, buyers come in stamping snow off their boots. Put a sturdy mat outside and a boot tray inside. Add a small bench or chair where people can take off their shoes, and clear space in the front closet so it doesn't look crowded. That small corner shapes how the rest of the home feels.
Warm, bright and uncluttered
- Set the thermostat to a comfortable temperature for showings, even if you usually keep it lower.
- Turn on the lights in every room and open the blinds to let in all the daylight you can.
- Pare down. Winter gear, holiday decorations and extra blankets pile up fast. Store what you can so rooms look as spacious as they are. (Our decluttering post has more on this.)
- Keep holiday decorating simple so buyers see the home, not the decorations.
Photos
Listing photos do a lot of the work in winter, when buyers do more scrolling before they go out. Schedule exterior photos for a bright day once the walks are clear and the yard looks tidy. Ask us about adding photos from warmer months. Any photo we use has to show the home accurately.
Get the paperwork ready early
Buyers in Minnesota ask good questions in winter, especially about heating. It helps to have these on hand:
- Recent utility bills, so buyers can see what heating costs
- Furnace or boiler service records, and the age of the roof, water heater and major appliances
- The seller's property disclosure, which Minnesota law requires (Minn. Stat. 513.55). We'll walk you through it.
If you move out before it sells
A vacant home in winter needs care. Keep the heat on and have someone check the property regularly, including after big storms. Keep the walks cleared, and tell us right away about any change.
When you're ready to talk about listing this winter, call or text the Reinalda Lancaster Real Estate Group at 507-951-7316. We'll help you build a plan that fits your timeline and your home.