Sanford's NH Real Estate Blog

As the economy goes up, so go mortgage rates.

If you are a home seller in the winter, you may be wondering how to create curb appeal in this cold weather.

This is not the time of year that blooming flower beds and a well placed planter of colorful blossoms will be available to brighten your entryway. But there are winter options that can take you through the holidays and make your home look warm and inviting from the “curb”.

A festive planter: What better way to bring that summer planter into use? Clean it out and add some fresh greens; evergreen branches of spruce, juniper or pine work very well for this. Arrange them like you would a bouquet of flowers. Add a few pine cones and some red holly berries for color. This winter arrangement adds a point of interest to your front porch and makes it look cheerful and inviting instead of just plain cold. A short string of tiny white lights can make it brighten it up nicely after dark.

Add a wreath; simple and tasteful: Nothing adds more to your front door (other than a fresh coat of paint) than to decorate it with a wreath. Bring in similar greens to the ones in your planter and add a few small brightly colored bows to draw the eye. Make it festive but tasteful, and your front door will be very welcoming to buyers.

A sturdy but festive welcome mat: In winter weather, the welcome mat can be a great asset to keeping your floors clean as well as offering a colorful splash to your front porch. Replace your old mat with a sturdy winter one and choose something that brightens the doorway and has complimentary colors that go well with your house color and front door.

Less is more with holiday décor: When it comes to lighting up the outside of your home before and after the holidays it is always best to remember that less is more when your home is on the market. Buyers really prefer a home without clutter, and that goes for your front yard as well. If your home is for sale it is probably best to avoid the inflatable Santa and elves or the extravagant nativity scene or Christmas village set up on your lawn. This does not mean to go too minimal and avoid all decorations; it just means that simple is best. White lights on shrubs that frame the front steps and candles in your windows are fine. Keep the multi-colored and bright light sets to a minimum. They are perfect if you have an focal point like one large spruce in your front yard but they really can make small shrubs look too bright and over-the top in decorations. You also might choose to minimize religious décor because people of all faiths will come to view your home.

Make them want to come in: Once snow falls, keep paths clear and inviting and have salt ready to melt the ice on your front walkway. It sets an unpleasant tone when buyers must walk through snow or across ice to get to your front door. Tuck away the snow shovels too. They are not part of your décor.

Patriots calanders went out this week. In case we somehow missed you let us know and we will get one out to you immediately!~ GO PATS!

Betsy and Sanford

Over six years ago, I founded SweetHomeNH.com to better inform the home buying and selling community with a user friendly, state of the art website. Last year the site was redesigned by Boston Logic and it now gets rave reviews by all who use it!

In this spirit, I am thrilled to make two announcements. First is the creation of Sweet Home NH Associates as a real estate team featuring the talents of 10 year NH Realtor Betsy Levesque and myself. Betsy and I worked together back at another real estate brokerage and share the same principles of technology, integrity and customer focus. It begins a new exciting synergy in real estate representation. 

The second factoid is that we have created Sweet Home NH Associates under the Prudential Verani Realty umbrella. Betsy’s license will hang in Nashua and mine in Bedford, but with 10 offices statewide we will have the services necessary to work with clients in any area of the state of New Hampshire. However our primary focus will remain in Southern New Hampshire.

As always, thanks for your support and referrals!

Press on my friends,

SF

Interesting is the fact that one of my listings this month had two potential buyers tour that are looking for a second home. Great indicator that this Spring may finally be the one that sellers have been waiting for!

Second home or “vacation home” buyers tend to materialize when the real estate storm is perfect. The perfect storms I speak of are low property prices and, low interest rates that are rising.

Good news for all because as the real estate market awakens from its slumber, so will the economy!

Press on my friends!

Sanford

Spectacular colors on Baboosic Lake in Amherst, NH, October 20, 2010