Yes, you can sell your home privately in an Ontario winter. Winter buyers are often serious, and there’s less competition. To stand out on the MLS® and REALTOR.CA®, keep walkways clear and salted, light up the outside, stage the inside so it feels warm, share heating details, price realistically and reply to every lead quickly.
Many sellers wait for spring, but people still change jobs, start families and need to move in December and February. In winter, your job is to make your home welcoming in the cold, easy to visit and quick to respond. Here’s how.
Why a winter sale can work in your favour
Winter brings its own kind of buyer. Someone who books a showing during a snowstorm usually means it. Here’s what to keep in mind:
- Motivated buyers. People searching in the cold months often have a real reason to move, like a job change, a lease ending or a family need.
- Less competition. Many owners hold off until spring, so your listing can get more attention from the buyers who are looking.
Every market and neighbourhood is different, so treat these as general guidelines rather than a promise about how fast your home will sell.
Curb appeal when the yard is under snow
Your lawn and garden won’t do the work they do in June, so the front of the house has to carry the first impression.
Keep walkways and the driveway clear and salted
A clear, safe path tells buyers the home is cared for. Shovel the driveway, the front walk, the porch and the steps before every showing and open house. Put down salt or sand, and keep a bag by the door for top-ups. Clear a spot for visitors to park, too, because buyers and their agents won’t want to leave their cars on a snowbank.
Turn on the lights
It gets dark early in an Ontario winter, and many showings happen after work. Replace burnt-out bulbs in porch lights, put lights along the walkway and make sure the house number is easy to read. A well-lit front entrance looks warm and inviting, and it’s safer on an icy evening.
Warm staging inside
After coming in from the cold, buyers should feel like they want to stay.
- Set the thermostat to a comfortable temperature before each showing. A chilly house makes buyers wonder about drafts and heating bills.
- Open the blinds and turn on every light. Winter daylight is short, so bright rooms help the home feel bigger.
- Add cozy layers: throws on the sofa, soft rugs and a lit fireplace if you have one and it’s safe to use.
Be ready for heating and energy questions
In winter, buyers pay close attention to how a home handles the cold. Put together a short list of facts you can hand over or post on your property webpage:
- The type and age of your furnace or heat pump, and when it was last serviced
- Typical monthly heating and hydro costs, if you track them
- Upgrades such as new windows, added attic insulation or a newer roof
- The age of the water heater, and whether it’s owned or rented
- For condos, what the fees cover, and whether your status certificate is ready for buyers to review
Photos: show winter, and other seasons too
Your photos are the first showing. Every ListedBySeller.ca package lets you upload 40 photos to REALTOR.CA®, so you have room to tell the whole story:
- Take exterior photos on a bright day, right after you’ve cleared the snow.
- Shoot the interior with all the lights on, ideally around midday.
- If you have summer or fall photos of the yard, garden or deck, include them and label them as seasonal so buyers can picture the property year-round.
Because listing changes are free, you can swap in fresh photos after a snowfall, or add new ones whenever something changes, from your online dashboard.
Want a professional look? Our photo services include:
| Photo package (up to 4,000 sq. ft.) | What’s included | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Photos Only | 30 professionally enhanced photos | $159.99 plus tax |
| Ultimate Package | Unlimited enhanced photos, premium cinematic video, Matterport 3D virtual tour | $259.99 plus Matterport fee and tax |
| Ultimate Package + Floor Plan | Everything in Ultimate, plus a floor plan with dimensions | $359.99 plus Matterport fee and tax |
Matterport 3D virtual tours include a 30-day free trial. After the trial, each tour renews at $12.99 a month plus tax. A 3D tour lets buyers walk through your home online before heading out on icy roads.
Make showings easy on snowy days
- Set up a boot tray and mat at the front door, with a bench or chair so visitors can take off their boots. A polite “please remove boots” sign helps protect your floors.
- Offer a place for coats so buyers aren’t touring in bulky parkas.
- Be flexible with times. Storms happen, so be ready to reschedule quickly rather than lose an interested buyer.
Host open houses, and post them on REALTOR.CA®
Weekend open houses still draw buyers in winter, especially on clear days. With ListedBySeller.ca, you can post unlimited open house dates on REALTOR.CA® at no extra charge, so you can add new dates whenever the forecast looks good. Our custom open house signs (four 12″×18″ double-sided signs with stands, $99) point drivers to your street, and a custom For Sale sign (18″×24″ double-sided with stand, $75) shows your direct phone number and a link to your property webpage.
Price realistically from day one
Winter buyers tend to compare carefully, and an overpriced home can sit while the snow piles up. Look at what similar homes nearby have actually sold for, not just what they’re asking. If you’d like help, our property pricing service ($99) gives you a comparative market analysis by a licensed real estate professional, showing what comparable properties have sold for in your area. And if you need to adjust your price later, you can update your listing for free.
Answer every lead fast
A buyer who reaches you first may never get around to calling the next seller. Your contact details can’t appear on the REALTOR.CA® listing itself, so every package includes:
- A live receptionist, 24/7, who answers calls about your listing and emails you the caller’s details.
- Automated lead forwarding. When a buyer clicks “Email Realtor” on REALTOR.CA®, their details are sent to you by system email automatically, usually within about 5 minutes.
- Your own property webpage and printable feature sheet, where buyers can see your contact details, extra photos and more.
Try to reply the same day, even if it’s just to book a time to talk.
What it costs to list with ListedBySeller.ca
Every package includes the same features: a listing on REALTOR.CA® and 14 agent MLS® boards, 40 photos, unlimited open house postings, free listing changes, the 24/7 receptionist and automated lead forwarding, with no commission. Prices are plus HST:
- Month to month: $74.99 per month, cancel anytime
- 2 months: $98.99
- 3 months: $124.97
- 6 months: $149.97
- 12 months: $197.93 (about $16.49 a month)
ListedBySeller.ca is rated 4.9 out of 5 stars from 97 Google reviews (as of October 2026). As one seller put it:
“I have used this service on 3 occasions. It is easy to use and a great value. Have had success using listedbyseller. Will continue to use in the future.”
Kim K., Google review
Frequently asked questions
Is winter a bad time to sell a home in Ontario?
Not necessarily. There are usually fewer listings, and the buyers who are out looking tend to be motivated. Good preparation, realistic pricing and quick replies matter more than the season.
Should I use winter photos or summer photos?
Use both if you can. Current winter photos show buyers what the home looks like today, and clearly labelled seasonal photos help them picture the yard in summer. You can upload 40 photos and change them for free at any time.
Can I hold open houses in winter?
Yes. You can post as many open house dates on REALTOR.CA® as you like at no extra cost, so you can plan around the weather.
Do I pay a commission when my home sells?
No. You pay only your package fee. You can choose to offer a cooperating commission to buyer agents, but you only owe one if you sign a commission agreement with a buyer’s agent.
Ready to list this winter?
Get your home on REALTOR.CA® and the MLS® without paying a full commission. Compare packages and click Submit Property to get started at ListedBySeller.ca. Questions? Use the contact form on our site, and our team will get back to you.
