During the winter months, you may be a tad frustrated if you’re trying to sell your house. Winter can be a definite drag once the novelty of the first snowfall is long gone, and endless shoveling and dead car batteries isn’t exactly a winter wonderland. But if you’re waiting for spring to jump your house onto the market, consider a change in pace. With a few quick and easy tips, you can turn winter right around to your advantage.

First, as in any season, you want the outside of your house to be as attractive as possible. Make sure to keep your walkway as neat and free of snow as possible, as well as clearing the rest of the driveway. Aside from giving the house a better look, you’re unlikely to get on good first terms with a potential buyer if he or she takes a tumble before reaching the front door. Consider this a plus if you hate yardwork or, if you really can’t be bothered, you should have no problem recruiting a neighborhood kid.

Second, be sure to leave enough space to park. When staging your house you want to arrange your driveway so that a prospective buyer has as short a distance as possible from the vehicle to the front door. This not only makes it more convenient, but it minimizes the chance of slipping on residual ice after snow shoveling.

Third, try to make sure that you have ample space around the back of your property cleared, so if a buyer wants to take a tour of the yard you don’t have to drudge through the snow.

And fourth, turn the winter hospitality to your advantage! If you have a fireplace, make sure it’s lit in advance. Keep a plate of cookies or other winter goodies on hand in your kitchen or coffee table, and go through the small courtesy of offering them some hot chocolate. Humans are especially programmed to seek shelter in the winter, and you want to market your home not just as a dwelling, but as a cozy household that you can easily fit into. The more you can get your buyer to picture himself cozing up contentedly in the winter months, the better your odds of making a sale.