I need more coffee, so I could only come up with the word "snappy" for my title this morning. The gist of our topic today is encouraging impatient sellers whose home is still lingering on the market. Coming from someone who sold his home in early March, I can tell you it is not easy sitting on one's hands waiting for that "right" buyers to come along. Today I want to explore a few strategies that might actually help you move that thing before the flowers start to bloom again.

Any of you who have been reading along over the past few years, as well as those of you who have some experience (or a well-educated friend) in real estate, are going to be very familiar with the first tip. It is as simple as doing your homework and knowing your market. A friend of mine is an agent in the Denver area and he is enjoying competing offers, rising prices and an influx of new buyers clamoring to get their hands on his listings. While that may be great for him and his sellers, that could not possibly have less bearing on the market in northern New Hampshire.

Forget what you have read in the national news. All that matters is what is happening, not just in New Hampshire, but Northern New Hampshire and right here in North Conway. If you really want to sell your home you need to research the activity right in your neighborhood, the past sales in the area (under 1 year if possible), and any other local trends that you can get your hands on. Your local real estate professional should be well versed in these things and, given a bit of notice, could help you do the research. In the end, the selling price that you come up with after gathering all of those facts (vs. the one you pulled out of the sky!), will be far more attractive to any savvy buyer that comes your way.

Although this little trick comes with its own challenges, offering an incentive on your home can be a highlight that is just what the buyers are looking for. One idea that we have covered in the past is getting a pre-listing home inspection. Imagine being a buyer in the dead of winter knowing a home inspection is going to have certain limitations due to the weather. If the sellers are throwing in a full (recent) home inspection report as part of the deal, your peace of mind just increased ten-fold. This practice is really popular in the mid-west and is starting to build momentum in the east. Jump ahead of the curve on this and show those potential buyers that you are willing to go the extra mile in standing behind your home's quality.

On the topic of quality, this is the perfect time to tackle any of those "honey-do" projects that have been ignored or forgotten. Buyers, especially those wanting to move in during the colder months, do not want to purchase a long to-do list with their new home. By picking away at those smaller remodeling or upgrading projects now, the next listing appointment will have far less explaining and back-pedaling involved. Take care of these projects and not only will your potential buyers be happier they don't have to purchase a project-house, but you can enjoy the benefits of your labor as long as you remain in the home.

"Winter can be a very good time to sell a home in the White Mountains," notes Badger Peabody & Smith Realty agent (formerly Badger Realty), Edward O'Halloran. "Buyers in the market during this time of year are typically moving because of need not want. That means they are typically more serious and single-minded than in other seasons," he continued.

This is also true since we are fortunate enough to live in and around a ski town. Vacation homebuyers are out in force this time of year and your home might be just the perfect place for them to hang their hats (and skis) for years to come. When you are considering listing your home, don't neglect to target these folks as they may surprise you.

Lastly, it is of paramount importance that you stage (and keep staged) your home. There is a chance that you have impeccable taste and really do have an eye for design and interior decorating. But this is not a time for risking a sale based on your friend's opinions of your bathroom makeover. Trust a professional whose job it is to keep up with the latest trends in home staging. This does not have to be super expensive and will most likely result in a few modifications that you can certainly live with while your home is listed or at the very least during the showings. The potential buyers will take note and you'll more than likely have more interest in your home than if you simply kept it as is.

Having your home on the market past the prime selling season is tough. Nobody will take that away from you. But do your best to keep the faith and take a few of these steps to increase your chances of hooking that seller. I mean if those crazy people can catch fish in a frozen lake, you should be able to snag a buyer, don't you think!?