Dear Jan,

We have just bought a home out of state and are getting ready to list our home here now.

Is there anything we need to know about leaving and selling our vacant home in the winter?

LLC

Dear LLC:

Normally I would say that our mild weather in the Northwest makes leaving a vacant home easy. But if December has been an indicator of what’s to come, you should plan for the worst.

Keep in mind two things.

First, warm homes show better than cold homes. In a cold home a buyer walks in and then runs right back out to get in their warm car. If the home is warm and inviting they will wander through the home and start visualize themselves living there.

By staging the home lightly (vignette decorating) you can add charm to your home to make it more welcoming. Some real estate agents will do this for you.

The second thing to keep in mind is that freezing weather can cause broken plumbing and make a mess. If you leave the heat on low you can avoid broken pipes. Have a trusted neighbor or your real estate agent check on your home during freezing weather.

Before you know it the sun will shine again! Best wishes,

Jan Zufelt

Jan Zufelt is an associate broker with John L. Scott Real Estate.