![\"Park](\"http:\/\/www.amybergquist.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/12\/Park-in-the-Snow.JPG\" "\\"Park")
Winter is an excellent opportunity to begin thinking about the spring real estate market. Although there is a lot going on, taking a little time here and there to create a plan, and set some portions in motion, could make a big difference when you\u2019re energized early in the new year.<\/p>\n
We sat down in front of the warm fire last night and came up with four ideas for getting ready for the spring. These suggestions are definitely important if you\u2019re considering a home sale, but may also be valuable to those who are looking forward to enjoying their home for years to come.<\/p>\n
Start Decluttering<\/strong><\/p>\n Advice to declutter a home before putting it on the market is so pervasive that it\u2019s become clich\u00e9. At the same time, buyers consistently respond better to homes that are sparsely decorated than to those that are densely decorated. They need to see just enough furniture to show them how to use a space, and just enough decorations to make it feel complete. So take a few minutes to pare back, especially in the first few rooms buyers will see.<\/p>\n A home sale is an excellent excuse to declutter, but just about everyone can thin out their collections and displays. Homeowners seem to have a natural tendency to collect things over time, and are often hesitant to part with their possessions. From our own experience, cleaning out our home office to the bare essentials has made it feel much larger, and more inviting.<\/p>\n Take an extra moment to consider the next location for your stuff as you go through things. Most people pack it all into a box destined for either the attic or basement, but that\u2019s just a stopgap. Eventually you\u2019ll have to go through it all again as you clean out your storage areas. We\u2019re not suggesting you part with family heirlooms and items of personal significance, but not everything needs to be saved. Common alternatives to storage are setting items aside for a tag sale, donating them to a charitable organization, or just throwing them away. Freecycle and CraigsList are also great resources.<\/p>\n Take on that Smaller Inside Project<\/strong><\/p>\n Since it\u2019s cold outside, winter is a great time to take on an inside project. Think about your home from a buyer\u2019s perspective \u2026 is there anything that stands out as needing an update? This is another opportunity to improve a buyer\u2019s perception of your property without too much of an expense.<\/p>\n Focus on first impressions and on highly personalized design choices when making a list of potential projects. Wallpaper and paint are the easiest to do, and can usually be done in a weekend. More ambitious homeowners might consider projects in bathrooms, the kitchen, or even the basement.<\/p>\n Each January we find ourselves energized by all the possibilities and good intentions associated with the beginning of a new year. Painting and redecorating a room is a great outlet for some of that energy since it allows us to feel productive and improve the look of our home.<\/p>\n Lay Groundwork for Major Projects<\/strong><\/p>\n At this point in the real estate market it\u2019s difficult to recommend that owners undertake major renovations before putting their home up for sale. Move-in ready homes are definitely in higher demand than those that need a little work, but the headache and cost involved in a major project is often not recovered in the sales price.<\/p>\n That being said, we can certainly imagine situations in which a targeted professional renovation would more than pay for itself and help a home sell more quickly. One example would be updating an original bath in a home that is otherwise move-in ready.<\/p>\n Contractors are less busy during the winter. They are more likely to have time to come out and give a quote for your job. The earlier you sign someone up for a project, the sooner you can get on their schedule. And they may even be willing to cut you a bit of break on the price if you help them keep their crew working through the winter.<\/p>\n