If you live in an area where winter does not make a major impact to your every day life, then maybe I should move there too. If you live in a place where winter is gloomy, cold, reduced daylight hours - I can go on and on and on... - then selling homes requires different strategies.

Here are some tips of what you can do to sell homes in winter.

1. Give a warm welcome. Make the temperature comfortable inside the home; in fact, make it so comfortable that the home shoppers don't want to go back outside! Turn on the lights and make the house bright. Light the fireplace too, if there is one and only if it is safe when left unattended. I read somewhere that you can even serve hot drinks and snacks.

2. Create a great first impression. Although this is necessary regardless of the season, it can give you an extra edge during the winter season. Clear the snow and ice. Fix the windows so there's no draft. Play soft music in the background and make the home feel as comfortable as possible. How about some winter decorations? Maybe a few paintings of snowy scenes or fireplaces?

Just some thoughts.

(Almost) anything you can do to make a prospect more comfortable and potentially give you additional face-time with a prospect is usually a good thing. I like the idea with hot drinks, but I think it is important that it is presented correctly, so that it does not come off too friendly.

I would add that making sure you have adequate walkway runners and roomy door mats to show each prospect that the house is not being sloshed through with snow and water. You don't want them to get the feeling you're letting people track up "their" floors.

Make sure the snow is shovelled and the walk way is clear of ice. People will decided to move on if it looks like it will be an adventure just to make it to your front door.