Selling a house in Ontario in winter: how do I get ready for showings when it snows?

Three things matter most on a snowy showing day: shovel and salt the driveway, front walk and steps; turn on every light inside and out and keep the heat at a normal, comfortable setting; and set up a spot at the door for wet boots. Fewer people come out in a snowstorm, but the ones who do are serious, and the house with the clean walkway stands out.

Why snow-day prep pays off

One of Yifei's listings still had several showings during a week of heavy snow. A buyer's agent called afterwards: their clients had seen five houses that day, this one looked the best, and it was the only one with the snow cleared at the door. The buyers went home to talk it over and were likely to come back.

Plenty of those five houses were similar. What buyers remembered was the walkway. As Yifei puts it, people who go house hunting in the freezing cold aren't browsing. Some are relocating for work, some have a lease running out, and they're in a hurry. If they have to wade through ankle-deep snow from the car, you've lost the first impression.

Winter isn't dead, either. In one year when rates were rising, Yifei's team sold a house a day for ten straight days in December, and from November 20 to December 3, 2025, he closed close to one a day. The truly slow stretch runs from around December 20 to mid-January.

Outside: from the car to the front door

• Clear the driveway, the sidewalk, the path to the front door and the steps down to bare pavement, then salt or sand them.
• If buyers will want to see the backyard, side door or garage, clear those paths too.
• Keep the lockbox free of snow and make sure the porch light works.
• Knock down icicles hanging over the front door while they're small.
• Gently brush snow off the gas meter and exterior vents with a brush or broom; Enbridge says not to scrape them with anything sharp. Buyers and inspectors notice.
• Sidewalk rules vary by city. St. Catharines requires owners to clear the full width of the sidewalk in front of, beside and behind their property to bare pavement within 24 hours of a snow or ice event. In Toronto, city crews clear public sidewalks once snowfall reaches 2 cm; under 2 cm, residents must clear theirs within 12 hours of the end of the snowfall.

Yifei keeps two snowblowers at home. If you've already moved out, line up a snow removal service before you list, not the afternoon a showing gets booked.

Inside: light, heat, boots

In December it's dark by late afternoon, and snowy days are darker still. Before each showing:

• Turn on every light, open the blinds, and switch on the porch and backyard lights.
• Keep the heat at your usual comfortable setting. A cold house makes buyers wonder about the furnace and insulation.
• Put down a large mat, a shoe rack and a boot tray. Most Ontario buyers take their shoes off, and a place to put them keeps slush off your floors.
• Holiday decorations are fine; keep them light so they don't hide the house.

Yifei's six rules for living in a listed home

For a seller with a full house, Yifei sent six rules for keeping the home show-ready while listed. They cover:

1. Bathrooms
2. Staging pieces
3. Daily tidying
4. The kitchen
5. Smells
6. A check before every showing

With windows shut all winter, odours linger, so the fifth one matters most.

In winter, add one more: leave the furnace service records and a year of heating bills on the counter. Winter buyers care most about whether the house stays warm and what it costs.

Frequently asked questions

Should I cancel a showing because of a snowstorm?

Not if the buyers can make it. Snow-day buyers are mostly serious; just see that they can get in safely. If the roads are truly dangerous, reschedule with the buyer's agent.

Should I use fall photos for a winter listing?

Use good fall exterior shots if they still match what buyers will see; a big gap works against you.

Should I take my listing down over the holidays?

Yifei's view is that the slowest stretch is around December 20 to mid-January. If your home hasn't sold, you can pause for just that month. See also Should I wait until spring to sell in Niagara? and, for winter upkeep, What winter home maintenance does a house in Toronto or Niagara actually need?

Tell me about your house and your plans (Yifei, RE/MAX, efay.ai), and I'll tell you straight what to do.

Sources

• St. Catharines, sidewalk snow removal: https://www.stcatharines.ca/roads-parking-and-traffic/snow-removal/sidewalk-snow-removal/
• Toronto, sidewalk clearing: https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/streets-parking-transportation/road-maintenance/winter-maintenance/sidewalk-clearing/
• Enbridge, keep meters and vents clear: https://enbridgegas.mediaroom.com/2025-02-14-PUBLIC-SERVICE-ANNOUNCEMENT-Enbridge-Gas-Reminds-Customers-to-Keep-Gas-Meters-and-Vents-Clear-of-Ice-and-Snow