If you read the title in your best Tom Bodett voice, congratulations. If you have no idea what it references, we’ve done a good job of dating ourselves. When buyers walk into a home in January and it’s 48 degrees inside, the showing usually ends fast. They spend less time looking, move more quickly through the space, and are far less likely to feel comfortable or connected. They’re imagining getting back into a warm car, not how their furniture fits in the room.
Yet we’re seeing more vacant homes sitting cold this winter. Whether a seller is trying to save on utilities or an agent forgets to adjust the thermostat before a showing, the result is the same: a poor first impression that can easily cost a sale. Keeping the heat on and/or using a programable thermostat may be the difference between a sale and a price reduction.
The Real Cost of Heat in a Vacant Home
We pulled the actual Pacific Power bill from our 1,800-square-foot short-term rental with an electric heat pump. The chart below shows daily energy use from December through early January.
On the left, the home was vacant with the heat set to 50. On the right, it was fully occupied and kept comfortably warm.
Cost Per Day: Vacant vs. Occupied
Vacant (Heat set to 50 degrees): about $0.67 per day (3.5–4.5 kWh/day)
Occupied (Heat On): about $7.23 per day (33–94 kWh/day, averaging around 45 kWh/day)
Difference: about $6.56 per day
Monthly Cost Comparison
Heat Down for an entire month: about $30 (including the base service charge)
Heat On for an entire month: about $217
Incremental monthly cost to keep heat on: about $187
Less to keep it a comfortable temperature for showings.
$187 a Month Can Protect and Sell Your Home
Think about it this way: if someone asked whether you would risk losing a sale over $400, your answer would probably be no. Yet that is essentially what could happen when a home is left unheated during the listing period. That missed sale could result in a price reduction later.
For less than the price of one utility bill, you can make your home more appealing to buyers and protect it from damage. Keeping a vacant property heated helps to:
- Prevent frozen pipes that can cause thousands of dollars in repairs
- Reduce humidity and mold risks
- Protect floors, cabinets, and finishes from temperature swings
- Create a more welcoming environment for every showing
Buyers Feel Temperature Before They See Features
When buyers walk in, temperature sets the tone. A warm entryway feels like home. A freezing one feels like work. Even if the property looks great, that initial discomfort can make it hard for buyers to picture themselves living there.
This is an emotional business, and comfort matters. The difference between a buyer lingering for fifteen minutes or leaving after three can come down to the thermostat.
The Smart Seller Move
Leaving the heat on during winter showings is not a luxury. It is a strategy. For about six dollars a day, you protect your investment, prevent damage, and create a space that invites buyers to stay longer and connect emotionally. Sixty-five is a reasonable temperature and can be lowered overnight. The chart clearly shows the energy surge when the heater is get from 50 to 69 degree (and it takes about six hours) so a moderate change is recommended.
So as you prepare your home for winter buyers, ask yourself:
Would you walk away from a potential sale to save $187 a month?
If the answer is no, keep the heat on. Your buyers and your closing statement will thank you.