It’s minus 1 degree and the weather people are saying we’ll have “hazardous levels of cold” as I write this over the weekend. The wind chill may get us to 45 below zero. I think it’s safe to say there won’t be a whole lot of homebuyers out when our polar vortex acts up this way, but it’s a good thing really. It gives you a chance to put some of my staging-for-snow tips into practice.

1. Safety First

Of course the priority is to always keep our visitors safe, whether or not we know them. Nothing is worse than having an excited prospective buyer careening down your driveway on his heinie.

So, on those days when folks might be out house hunting you’ll need to be extra-diligent clearing the snow and ice from the driveway, sidewalks, walkways and steps. The bonus here is that this also boosts the home’s curb appeal – a definite advantage in winter.

2. Warm and Light it up

You may not know in advance if potential buyers will be touring your home while you’re at work so you’ll need to remember to set the thermostat to a comfortable temperature before leaving. Then, throw open the drapes to let in what little natural light we have.

3. Set a Mood

Sure, it may seem strange to walk out of the door in the morning on your way to work with the heat on and the window coverings open and now we want you to set a mood? Yes, set a mood.

Soft music in the background is one easy way to make folks feel comfortable. Make sure the volume is very low and the music is unobtrusive. It’s snowing outside, so toss some snuggly blankets on the sofa to create a feeling of warmth.

If you took us up on our offer to photograph the home while the sun was still shining and the leaves were nice and green, display those photos prominently.

Team Lindahl with Kris Lindahl Real Estate is happy to provide more tips for staging and marketing your home in the snowy months. Feel free to contact us. In the meantime, keep safe out there!