Your home is an oasis, a place perfectly appointed to suit your personal tastes. Which is exactly as it should be—until it becomes time to list your home and move on to the next dream.

Buyers aren’t looking for a home that appears too lived-in. They’re looking for a space they can customize to their own styles and preferences, with enough of a starting point in place that they can envision their future life. Selling your home is about showing its potential without too much of anything distracting the eye—and the solution is staging. Before you show your home to prospective buyers, you have to take steps to depersonalize it, without draining it of all personality. It’s a balancing act; and if done properly, it can be the difference between closing a beneficial deal or having your home languish on the market unnecessarily.

The warmer months of spring and summer are when the real estate market spikes and buyers are hot on the trail of a new home. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t worthwhile to list your home in the new year—after all, winter offers sellers less competition with fewer properties on the market. Plus, once the cold sets in you have a chance to pull out all the stops to make your home feel comfy and cozy. Here are some tips to ensure you’re set up to wow potential buyers during the snowy season.