Your guide to selling your home in winter

Spruce up the exterior

Despite the prevailing belief that winter is a dismal time for home sales, your chances of getting your home off the market during the colder months are actually good.

According to a new WIN infographic, your chances of selling within six months are actually highest during winter. The odds are 65 percent in your favor when the temperatures drop, compared to 56 percent for spring, 55 percent for summer and 57 percent for fall. Not only do homes sell one week faster when the nation becomes a winter wonderland, but they also get a higher sale price compared to the national average - a 1.2 percent bump to be exact.

While these advantages are encouraging if you're ready to brave the snow and ice to sell your home, winter does come with some unique responsibilities for sellers. Here are some items to add to your to-do list:

Create a warm, inviting interior

Curb appeal is important regardless of the season. Follow these steps to help your home make a good first impression:

• Remove ice and snow from your walkway.
• Trim your trees and shrubs.
• Clean your windows and siding.
• Top it all off with a nice wreath on your door or other holiday decorations.

During winter, the only thing that should be frightful is the weather outside, so follow these steps to make your home's interior delightful:

• Keep your heat at a comfortable temperature so buyers don't think the house is drafty.
• Leave your curtains and blinds open to let in natural light.
• Light candles but be careful not to use scents that are too powerful.
• When staging the house, go with decor that is understated and on the conservative side.

With these tips, you may see your home fly off the market in no time. Just don't forget the pre-listing inspection to give your buyers peace of mind.