Staging your home is a very important step in the selling process. Now, under the best circumstances you should be able to stage your home and yard in good weather during the spring and summer months. Unfortunately that is not always the case. Sometimes it is necessary to stage your home in more adverse weather conditions. Those who live in the eastern U.S. can relate to the fact that sometimes the weather gets a little...disagreeable. But that is not reason to close down the selling of your home, in fact; it could be a great opportunity.
Staging your home in snow and other extreme weather conditions gives you an opportunity to show how welcoming and warm your home can be, even if is snowing and windy outside. As with any staging, take the time to do the preliminary cleaning in order to give yourself a nice base to work from. Now, there are some definite concerns for the exterior of the home that relate to the weather. Snow and ice can cause some unnecessary accidents so be sure to keep a good supply of de-icer on hand for the sidewalk, driveway and front walk. Also make sure that these walks are clear of obstructions that could cause an accident for any viewers.
Now you have the task of making the interior as inviting as possible. Warmth is a great place to start. If the home has fireplaces then light them up, if there are no fireplaces; make sure that the temperature is warm and welcoming. A cozy home will encourage viewers to stay a bit longer and explore the home more. Another powerful tool in the stagers arsenal is scent. Scent is one of the most powerful of the human senses and having pleasant aromas in a home during the selling process can help to put people at ease, favorites are things like cinnamon, vanilla or fresh baked cookies. It also may be in your best interest to have some plastic boot covers at the door. If viewers have been to a few homes, they may tire of taking their shoes on and off. Having some waterproof boot covers will make things easier on them and keep your floors in good condition.
