Tips for making your winter listing feel like The One

Vendors may object about selling because their garden isn’t looking its best in winter but nobody’s garden is.

Use real plants and flowers inside the home when doing the marketing, to give a feeling of vibrancy and an outdoor flow. Bring in real food too, lemons, a bowl of pears, artichokes and apples. An olive tree in a pot can add a splash of colour too.

Vege gardens are still producing vegetables in winter. If there's one on the property, consider bringig any produce inside, like broccoli, cabbage, kale to show that this is a year-round vege garden.

Though it may seem counter-intuitive, set up seating outside to show where people will congregate in the summer. And present it as an option on a sunny day in winter. Some vendors might be open to putting a new fire pit in the garden with some seating around it.

If there are any overgrown trees shadowing the house, cut them right back to allow light in.

It’s a real turn off to walk into a chilly home, particularly if it’s vacant in the winter months. If you can get around all your homes, and put the heating on a good two or three hours in advance of an open home or a viewing, this can really help people feel relaxed and stay longer. 

If the property has an open wood fire, have it burning, both for the property photos and prior to the open home. And you’ve hit the jackpot if your client has under floor heating, that’s worth its weight in gold at open homes, when people take their shoes off.

In summer, you have the benefit of showing the home with a lot of natural light, whereas in winter you may have to find those happy vibes elsewhere. Have lots of lamps on throughout the house, and use the same kind of bulbs everywhere. Some agents like to use warm light in winter, others say bright white light. Whatever it is you decide, make it consistent. You may also want to consider some ambient lighting in certain spaces to create a cosy sitting space.

Creating cosy areas where people will feel tempted to sit or even lie down will make them feel really at home. Things like sheepskin beanbags, beds with lush covers and freshly ironed sheets will help. Opt for quality materials - beautiful wool blankets and natural leather skins for instance. In the living room, have a basket of chunky knit throws, ready for a night in watching a movie. In bedrooms, have velvet quilted covers, with big fluffy pillows and soft cushions.

Make sure each bedroom looks quite different, otherwise people will assume there are two bedrooms not three when looking at photos online. If possible, have a children’s bedroom done out in the house so that the kids can connect with the home - and ideally have a play area which gives an idea of what you might do on a rainy day (a games table, or a teepee for instance).

More than with a summer listing, careful placement of art is key in winter properties where people’s attention is more insular. Ideally, the art should be landscape or abstract, connecting with the landscape outside; but landscape photographs can also work really well.Popular colour palettes at the moment are sagey greens and olives and dusty pinks, rusty reds, oranges and browns in the terracotta family. A sage green can be quite hearty and gives a nice warmth into a space.

A lot of homes, if occupied, won't smell too sweet in winter, they can be a bit musty. So light candles to promote an attractive fragrance. Winter scents recommended by our experts are  sensual smells - cloves, cinnamon and amber. Meanwhile, some Essential Oil blends bound to appeal to buyers include Cedarwood, Orange Blossom, Geranium, Black Pepper, and Lavender. Fresh lilies - or better still, those two or three days old - also emit a great scent.