Chicago winters can throw a chill on real estate goals for both home buyers and home sellers. Home buyers may find it harder to evaluate property blanketed by snow. Home sellers keep an eye on the weather forecasts ahead of open houses and home viewings.

Wintertime home sellers can turn up the heat on their listings with a few home-staging tips especially suited for colder months. Ask your john greene real estate agent for more ways to stage a home for sale during the winter.

1. Provide a Place for Boots

Set up a bench or a couple of chairs inside your home’s entry where house-hunters can sit down to remove their boots and shoes. Place a boot tray or a mat so people can leave their footwear in an orderly fashion.

No one wants to track melting snow on floors and rugs. A designated place for boots sends a friendly message for homebuyers to shed their footwear in advance. It also signals consideration for others by providing a place for people to sit while they remove their boots. On both counts, a boot station is an easy way to welcome homebuyers into your property.

2. Raise the Temperature

Create a warm welcome for homebuyers by raising the thermostat in advance of home viewings. A warm home will encourage buyers to spend more time viewing your home. Raise the temperature to at least 70 degrees F.

Set a reminder for yourself so you can make the adjustment in time for the house to warm up before a home showing or an open house. Or consider investing in a smart thermostat you can program. Smart thermostats are among the cutting-edge features many homebuyers look for in a home purchase.

3. Cozy Up the Fireplace

Fireplaces are often focal points that show off the best attributes of a room. Light a fire in the fireplace if possible. Even if you can’t have a fire burning, warm the space by adding cozy throws on nearby armchairs or the sofa. Or try these additional and easy DIY tips:

• Make sure the fireplace is clean and well-maintained. Sweep out dead ashes and the remains of burned logs.
• If you have a gas fireplace, use fresh fireplace logs. Dust-covered logs will create the wrong impression.
• Add lighting to the mantlepiece using battery-operated candles.
• Add seasonal greenery on the mantle or in a basket arrangement on the hearth.
• Add a cozy hearth rug.

4. Use Warm Accent Colors

Bare trees, cloudy skies, snow on the ground—winter often creates a colorless outdoor landscape. Brighten the interior of your home with accent colors that create a warming atmosphere.

Use colors that complement the existing color scheme of your home. Think pillows, lampshades, home decor accessories, and even food. Use a light touch, however. A big bowl of oranges on a kitchen island is more strategic than burying a sofa in throw pillows, for example.

5. Create a Café Atmosphere

Find a place in the kitchen to set up a café corner where future homeowners can linger over coffee. Set up mugs and a coffeepot or coffee press. Expand this idea by adding a tea caddy and a teapot. Arrange items on a tray to make it easy to stow away in between showings. Creating a warm, homey atmosphere can help homebuyers visualize themselves living in your house.