Lake Tahoe saw a lot of real estate action this summer, with stats over all being very good compared to the last few years. It is that time of year where the market has quieted down, but it doesn’t mean you need to call your Tahoe Keys realtor and have him remove the sign from your yard just yet. After all, if a buyer is willing to brave the snow to see homes for sale in Lake Tahoe, you can probably label them “serious” and “motivated”. If you want to keep your home on the Tahoe Keys real estate market, but are concerned you will not get the most bang for your buck, have no fear for there are some things you can do.

Let’s start outside first.

Make sure the outside is neat and presentable. This is one of the most common pieces of advice during listing and definitely makes sense. However, during winter months, especially in Lake Tahoe if there are constant snow storms, upkeep can be hard. After all, ice and dirty snow are hardly attractive and there is little you can do. Or so it would seem. Focus on snow removal, de-icing and leaf/foliage removal. You should be doing this anyway as you certainly don’t want to slip on ice or deal with clogged gutters from leaves and pine needles.

Now let’s move inside….

Enter any mountain home during the winter and chances are you will find some winter clothes, boots and maybe even toys right in the entrance. This keeps from dragging wet snow and ice through the house. However, if your home is on the market, make sure the entrance has space for potential buyers and their agent. After all, first impressions go a long way and you want people to feel like they have space when they enter.

Make it warm and cozy. You want people to feel comfortable, but not like they need to strip off their clothes as soon as the step foot in the Lake Tahoe home for sale. If they walk into a house that is freezing, after being outside where it is freezing, chances are they will not spend as much time in the house.

Speaking of warm and cozy, lets talk about light. While Lake Tahoe experiences roughly 274 sunny blue skies a year, when it is snowing a home can feel dark and gloomy. Make sure to create extra warmth with extra lighting. Lamps in dark corners, or even some decorative night lights in hard to reach places can do the trick.

While we are on the topic of decor, there is a fine line when it comes to holiday decorations and accessories. They can be overwhelming and clutter the home if you are not careful. Keep that in mind when listing during the holidays. While you should definitely enjoy your (hopefully) last holiday in the home, go with less is more this holiday season.

Other things to keep in mind while listing your Tahoe Keys home for sale during the holiday season with the hopes of getting top dollar is to make sure your marketing photos are updated. This keeps the listing fresh in appearance, but also accurate. As we previously mentioned, Lake Tahoe is known for stunning bright blue skies almost all year around. There is nothing more gorgeous than a fresh, sparkly blanket of snow against that bright blue back drop. Especially when the other option is dirty snow and ice. Also be flexible with showings and letting potential buyers in when it works best for them. If you work or are traveling this should be fairly easy with lock box access, but if your schedule is weird, work with realtors and their clients as much as possible. For more questions on Tahoe Keys real estate, call Peter Delilli at 530-308-4331.