TOM’S TIPS • SERIES PREMIERE
10 practical Tips from Tom Shearer to help your Edmonton home make a lasting impression, even when the temperature drops.
Winter showings don’t have to be a challenge. With a little preparation, the colder months can actually make your home feel more inviting than a summer open house.
Edmonton winters are real, and our buyers know that. What they’re looking for is a home that feels cared for in every season. When a buyer walks up to a well-cleared path, steps into a warm entry, and sees every light on, they’re not just seeing a house. They’re imagining their life in it.
Here are 10 straightforward things that make a real difference. Most of them take less than 30 minutes.
Start Outside: Curb Appeal in the Cold
First impressions happen before anyone opens the front door. In winter, that impression is shaped by safety, visibility, and warmth. Even from the street.
1. Clear Everything, Not Just the Path
Shovel the full width of your sidewalks, driveway, and especially the stairs. Buyers notice when something feels inconvenient or unsafe, and a narrow path sends the wrong message. Take the extra five minutes to clear it properly.
2. Add Ice Melt Where It Matters
Sprinkle ice melt near steps, landings, and anywhere moisture tends to collect. A safe showing is a successful showing. This small detail tells buyers the home is well-maintained.
3. Turn On Every Exterior Light
Winter in Edmonton means shorter days and darker afternoons. If your home has a 4:30 p.m. showing, it’s already dusk. Turn on exterior lights before every showing: porch lights, garage lights, landscape lighting. Warm light equals a warm welcome.
The Entry Experience: First 10 Seconds
Buyers form their first impression within moments of stepping inside. In winter, that transition from cold to warm is your biggest opportunity.
4. Set Out a Quality Boot Tray and Mat
Give buyers a clear, clean place for their boots. A sturdy boot tray and a fresh mat show that you’ve prepared for guests, and it keeps your floors protected during showings.
5. Declutter the Entry
Minimise the coats, scarves, and bags in your front entry. A clean foyer feels larger and more welcoming. If you have a closet, keep it half-empty so buyers can see the storage potential.
Inside the Home: Warmth and Light
Once buyers are through the door, the goal is simple. Make them want to stay.
6. Keep the House Comfortably Warm
Set the thermostat to a comfortable temperature, especially if the home has been vacant. No one falls in love with a cold house. A warm interior signals that this home is ready to be lived in.
7. Turn On All the Lights
In winter, light is everything. Turn on lamps, under-cabinet lights, accent lighting. All of it. Bright homes feel bigger and more welcoming. Open blinds during daytime showings to let in as much natural light as possible.
8. Light the Fireplace
If you have a gas fireplace and it’s safe and practical, light it before the showing. A fireplace adds atmosphere and warmth that buyers feel the moment they walk into the room. It’s one of winter’s best staging tools.
The Details That Signal Care
Buyers may not consciously notice these details, but they feel them. Small touches create a sense of quality that adds up.
9. Polish Taps and Hardware
Chrome faucets, cabinet handles, and door hardware should gleam. It takes a few minutes with a microfibre cloth, but polished fixtures signal a home that’s been looked after. Buyers notice.
10. Clean the Windows (Inside)
Winter light is softer and more limited than summer light. Make sure you’re letting every bit of it in. Clean interior glass so rooms feel as bright and open as possible.
Bonus: Quick Wins That Elevate Any Winter Showing
If you want to go the extra mile, these finishing touches can set your home apart from every other listing on the market:
• Place fresh hand towels in bathrooms. White or neutral tones read clean and intentional.
• Use a subtle seasonal scent, like a quality candle. Nothing overpowering.
• Remove snow piled against the foundation. Buyers (and home inspectors) look at this.
• Sweep the garage floor. Winter buyers absolutely check the garage.
• Ensure the furnace filter is clean. It’s a small thing that speaks to overall maintenance.
• Replace any burnt-out light bulbs throughout the home.
• If the home is vacant, consider light staging: a cozy blanket, a plant, a lamp. It helps buyers connect emotionally.
Winter Can Be Your Advantage
Most sellers don’t realise this: winter can be one of the best times to showcase a home. Buyer traffic may be lower, but the buyers who are out looking are serious. They’re motivated, they’re ready, and they’re paying attention.
A home that’s properly prepared for a winter showing stands out. It tells buyers that the homeowner cares about the property, about their comfort, and about doing things right.
If you’re thinking about selling your home in Edmonton or the surrounding communities, we’d love to help you position it for success. In any season.
About Tom’s Tips
Tom Shearer is the broker/owner of Royal LePage Noralta Real Estate, one of Edmonton’s most established brokerages. Tom’s Tips is a video and blog series where Tom shares practical, no-nonsense advice for homeowners, buyers, and sellers across Edmonton and the surrounding communities.
New tips published regularly. Follow Royal LePage Noralta on social media to catch every episode.
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be a very strategic time. There are fewer listings on the market, which means less competition. And buyers who are actively looking during the colder months tend to be more motivated and serious about purchasing.
Around 21 to 22°C is a good target. If the home has been sitting vacant, turn the heat up well before the showing so it feels genuinely warm when buyers walk in.
Safety and first impressions. Clear all walkways, driveways, and stairs of snow and ice, and turn on every exterior light. Buyers form their opinion before they step inside.
Focus on warmth and light. Cozy blankets, a lit fireplace, warm lighting, and clean windows make a winter showing feel inviting. If the home is vacant, even minimal staging helps buyers connect emotionally. A throw blanket, a lamp, a plant. That’s often enough.
