Some things are better-appreciated first-hand. For the past couple weeks, I've been "trekking" my way up to 17,598 feet above sea level. At one point, we ventured up a nearby peak that topped us out at 18,514 feet. The lung-busting lack of oxygen is simply (and literally) breathtaking. We moved at a snail's pace and even that was exhausting. All that said, the hundred or so miles hiked to and from Everest base camp were filled with trials, challenges, illness, excitement, and relief.

I say all that simply to say (in a not-so-subtle segue) that those things that challenge us and push us to our limits are very often worth the extra effort. We have talked before about the challenges of selling a North Conway NH home in winter. We have also talked about the benefits of more serious buyers, fewer tire-kickers and the tertiary benefit of having your home decorated to help boost curb-appeal. Let's review a few of those tips for selling in winter and maybe the sale of your home can be your own personal Everest trek!

Unless you're Marty McFly, you'll have a bit of a challenge with this first one. That is, to take pictures before all the leaves are gone. If you are super lucky and a persnickety planner, you may have even snapped some photos while the leaves were changing. If so – Good for you! For the rest of us, it is always a challenge to make an exterior photo look nice in the barren times of winter. The one saving grace you have is that you can always use snow as a backup plan. If you failed to get exterior photos before the trees were bare, wait till we get a little of the white stuff and you can make your home look perfectly placed in a winter wonderland.

This one is seemingly obvious, but there's always that one seller that doesn't get the memo. It is important to go easy on the holiday décor. Nobody is saying you can't add some of your favorites and make your home attractive for guests (or your kids!). It is just important to remember two things. First, just like with family photos and our personal "stuff", we never want to hinder the process of buyers' ability to picture themselves in your home. So go easy on family photos and decorations alike. Second, I would encourage sellers to go easy on the religious-themed decorations and keep them generic. Nobody is saying you can't say "Merry Christmas". It's just a good idea to tone things down inside the home (at least during showings).

If you've been reading along over the past couple years, you know I'm a stickler for shoes-off in my home. You can handle this in two ways this winter. Number one is to always be sure your walkway is free of snow. We all know that the weather can make this a challenge here in NH, but if you get (and stay) ahead of the snow on your walkway you can minimize the amount of snow and dirt that will end up on your doorstep. Secondly, be sure you have a large and convenient area for removing one's shoes right at the entrance. Very often if people see other shoes in the doorway, especially if they are on a large winter-ready mat, they will follow suit and remove theirs as well.

While we are talking about the entryway, this is a good time to clear this area of any unnecessary clutter and make the process of entering and exiting your home as smooth as possible. This can include installing a coat rack/hook system and maybe even some cubbies for hats and gloves. If you have kids, chances are you have already got this system nailed down. For the rest of us, you can test this out by walking in the front door of your home and seeing how obvious the coat/boots/hat/gloves storage process really is. Chances are yours could use a little tweaking.

"Sellers often forget that when strangers enter a home they often want to be as polite and courteous as possible," notes Badger Peabody & Smith Realty agent (formerly Badger Realty), Kevin Killourie. "Making this process as obvious and smooth as possible tends to keep both parties happy," he continued.

Since we've already had our first cold spell most of you won't get caught by this one, but it is important to always make sure all of the systems in the home are functional. Be sure you have turned on the heat throughout the entire home and made sure that it works (and that musty smell is gone from a summer of being dormant). While you are at it be sure that there are no cracked light switches or chipped baseboards or any other little cosmetic items that could be fixed quickly and easily. Since you will likely be showing your home after work on many occasions, this is also a good time to test out all of the lights in the home and replace any bulbs as needed. Lighting in the home is of paramount importance this time of year.

Selling a home in winter has many benefits and a few small challenges as well. Much like a trek to 17,600 feet, it can be a bit of work but will certainly pay off in the end. Take a few of these suggestions and throw your proverbial hat in the ring. You may be pleasantly surprised at the results.