Winter Maintenance Tips for Home Sellers

Louisiana REALTORS • November 27, 2019

If you are planning to put your house on the market at the end of the year or at the beginning of the new year, there are a few essential maintenance tasks that need to be done. While maintenance is a necessary responsibility of homeownership, it becomes even more critical when you are trying to sell. Of course, there are the basics like decluttering and keeping it clean, but what else can you do to help your home sell faster and for more money?

Luckily in south Louisiana, we are typically spared of the extreme winter conditions that impact other parts of the country. This makes it easier to maintain the exterior of your home. Even though we don’t have to deal with issues that snow, sleet, ice, and salt create, we do have to tend to the other problems our tropical climate provides, like wind, rain, debris from storms, and normal wear and tear. Here are a few maintenance tips you can do this winter before your house hits the market.

Yardwork and Landscaping

Curb appeal is essential to a successful sale. While things during the winter months can look bleak. Keeping your lawn watered, fertilized, and mowed is important. Also, be sure to rake any fallen leaves and pick any weeds. While these may seem like small details, they present a home that is well cared for. You can also add some color and vibrancy by planting some new flowers or hanging some new baskets.

Paint

Painting is an affordable, easy way to update and upgrade the appearance of your home. Lighter and more neutral colors are the way to go when preparing your house to be sold . Remember, not every room needs to be painted, only the ones that could use a fresh coat. This is also an excellent time to remove any wallpaper. Wallpaper is a dated design feature, and replacing it with paint can help to maintain the perception of your asking price. If it’s been several years since the exterior of your home has had a touchup, it may be worth the time and money to repaint. First impressions are priceless, and just like landscaping, new paint can provide the ideal introduction.

  Functionality

Everything in the home needs to be functional. A sticking doorknob or creaky cabinet door can immediately raise a red flag for a prospective buyer. Be sure that everything works as it should. From something as small as a lightbulb to as big as your garage door, these are are the details that can make or break a sale. While many of these tasks are easy to check and address, some may be more intensive. This is where a home inspection before you list your house can be beneficial.

At the end of the day, working with a knowledgeable and professional REALTOR® as your partner will help get your home sold. REALTORS® that work on your behalf, understands what small adjustments are needed to market your home and attract the right set of buyers.   

Consumer Guide Update: Teen Financial Literacy

By Louisiana REALTORS® • October 9, 2026
Want Your Teen to Own a Home Someday? Start Talking Money Now Teens may not be thinking about mortgage rates or down payments just yet, but the money habits they’re building now can follow them for years. And 88% of teens surveyed by Fannie Mae and Junior Achievement said they want to own a home someday. This week’s Consumer Guide: Talk to Your Teens About Money and Homeownership makes those conversations a little easier, covering everything from credit scores and budgeting to debt, renting versus owning and saving for that eventual down payment. So yes, you may have to interrupt the doomscrolling. But helping teens get smarter about money today could put them in a much better position to get the keys to a home of their own down the road. Download all of NAR’s Consumer Guides in English or Spanish at facts.realtor. For ease of reference, below is a list of the most recent guides: NEW: Teen Financial Literacy Fraud Red Flags Helping Family Members Become Homeowners Prepare Your Home for Hurricane Season Condominium Insurance Thank you for your continued engagement with the “Consumer Guide” series and for sharing the resources with prospective clients to ensure they have the information they need to find success in their home buying or selling journey. Remember that these guides are for informational purposes only and are not meant to enact or change any existing NAR policy. The next Consumer Guide, scheduled for publication on Oct. 21, will cover winter cold and storm preparedness.

Constitutional Amendment Positions for November 3 Election

By Louisiana REALTORS® • October 9, 2026
Homeownership Is on Louisiana's November Ballot

Cookbook for the REALTORS® Relief Foundation On Sale Now!

By Louisiana REALTORS® • October 8, 2026
After months of gathering recipes from across our Louisiana REALTORS® family, the cookbook is ready! This 200+ page collection is filled with Louisiana flavor, REALTOR® heart and recipes contributed by our members. We launched sales of the cookbook at the Fall Governance Meetings. You can now purchase your copy for $30 directly from the printer and shipped to you! Additionally, we will have copies available at the RRF booth at NXT . After NXT, we will carry a limited stock at the LR office for you to purchase through the LR Merch Shop and pick-up from the office or at an LR event, as stock is available. Even better, $15 from every cookbook sold will be donated to the REALTORS® Relief Foundation (RRF) to help provide housing-related assistance to REALTORS® and their families following disasters. Pick up a copy for yourself, grab one as a gift and enjoy a taste of Louisiana while supporting a great cause!
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