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.   

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!

Residential Appraisal Update: UAD 3.6 and the Temporary Policy Exception

By Louisiana REALTORS® • October 7, 2026
A major change to residential appraisal reporting is approaching, but a recently announced temporary policy exception is creating some confusion about what happens on November 2. Here is what REALTORS® need to know. Beginning November 2, 2026, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will require the new Uniform Appraisal Dataset (UAD) 3.6 for new appraisal reports initially submitted to the Uniform Collateral Data Portal (UCDP), unless the lender has received a temporary policy exception. The November 2 implementation date has not been postponed. What is the UAD 3.6 Appraisal Report? UAD 3.6 replaces the familiar legacy appraisal forms (used for the last 25 years) with a new, more data-driven appraisal report that collects much more detailed property information. For REALTORS® and consumers, the transition could mean a more detailed property inspection, additional questions about the property and transaction, and potentially longer appraisal and review times as appraisers, lenders, appraisal management companies, and other industry participants adjust to the new system. What changed? Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac recently announced a temporary policy exception for eligible lenders that need additional time to complete their transition to UAD 3.6. Lenders receiving the exception may continue submitting appraisals using the current legacy UAD 2.6 format through May 19, 2027 . Beginning May 20, 2027 , new appraisal submissions to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac must use UAD 3.6. What does this mean for REALTORS®? For several months, REALTORS® may encounter both the current appraisal format and the new UAD 3.6 appraisal report. The appraisal format is determined by the lender's assignment requirements. REALTORS® and consumers do not need to determine which format should be used. It is also important to understand that an appraiser completing a legacy-format appraisal during this period should not automatically be assumed to be unprepared for UAD 3.6. An appraiser who is fully UAD 3.6 ready may still be instructed by a lender to complete an assignment using the legacy format. How can REALTORS® help? Good communication and accurate property information will become even more important. REALTORS® can help the appraisal process by providing accurate and specific information concerning: Recent renovations and improvements Property features and amenities Sales concessions and financing terms Known property conditions or unique characteristics Relevant information about the transaction Buyers should also be encouraged to discuss appraisal requirements and anticipated timelines with their lender early in the transaction. What about FHA, VA and USDA? The November 2 requirement discussed above applies to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac conventional lending. FHA, VA and USDA have their own appraisal policies and implementation schedules. Their transition to UAD 3.6 should not be assumed to follow the same November 2 timeline unless announced by the respective agency. The Bottom Line November 2 remains an important date for UAD 3.6. The temporary exception does not cancel or postpone the transition. Instead, it allows eligible lenders additional time to complete their transition. As a result, REALTORS® should expect a period when both legacy and UAD 3.6 appraisal reports are being used. Louisiana REALTORS® will continue monitoring the transition and providing members with updates as additional guidance becomes available. Louisiana REALTORS® is also planning a follow-up webinar to discuss the latest UAD 3.6 developments, what REALTORS® are seeing in transactions, and what these changes mean for agents and their clients.
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