Tips & Tricks To Stay Safe This Winter When Buying Or Selling
Winter can be a lot to handle when you live in Central Wisconsin! In theory it should only last a few months but often sticks around a lot longer than expected. Here are a few tips & tricks for buyers and sellers on staying safe this winter.
- Daylight. It’s important to remember the daylight hours decrease quite a bit during the winter months. When you’re scheduling a showing, it’s best to do them during before 5 pm. It’s easy to slip, twist an ankle or get hurt in the dark in an unfamiliar place. For sellers, if you have programable outdoor lights, turn those on! Not only do exterior lights offer a nice ambiance they can help illuminate walkways during the morning and evening.
- Ice, ice, ice. It can be slippery out there. If you are a seller, always salt the primary walkway to the home to help improve the access for buyers and agents. You can always leave a bag of salt along the side of your garage or porch and ask your agent to give showing agents a heads up prior to the showing, that if conditions are very slick the showing agent can sprinkle some salt down.
- Plan accordingly. In bad winter conditions, driving to showings may take longer than expected. This can delay showings. As a seller, be prepared to leave your home for a slightly longer time to give buyers more time to view your home. For buyers, plan to leave early to try to stay on schedule and respectful of the sellers time.
- Be courteous. The winter can bring a lot of snow, salt and sludge into the home. Try to take your winter boots on the entry rug, if possible. Even if the home is vacant, tracking all that wet residue through the home can cause a lot of wear & tear and additional work for the sellers to clean up. If you’re uncomfortable taking your shoes off, then bring another pair of indoor shoes or booties during the showing.
That’s a wrap! I hope these tips were helpful as you go through the winter months! We still have a few more left!
Austin Solomon | Realtor with The Solomon Group – Coldwell Banker Action (715) 212-4693