Most people know that springtime is historically a great time of year for the real estate market. The weather is finally warming, the days are longer, and people are beginning to come out of the cocoon of winter and spend more time outdoors.
Selling a home in any season necessitates a little bit of legwork up front. You want your home to exude charm and appeal. Fortunately, springtime is a great season to make that happen. Here are a few tips for getting your home ready for a spring sale:
De-clutter. Start making piles of items to donate, sell, store, keep, and throw away. Rent a Dumpster! Having a place to discard all your trash in one fell swoop can be tremendously liberating. You can donate clothing, shoes, functional household appliances, dishware, and even used books (just take them to your local library or a school in your town). Some organizations will even arrange for curbside pickup of certain items. Make sure to clean out your closets, attic, garage, and basement. And if you have lots of personal belongings that you can’t bear to part with, consider renting a local storage unit or keeping some things at the home of a friend or family member while your home is being shown. Remember that you want prospective buyers to be able to envision their possessions and furniture in your home, so the less “stuff” you leave around the house, the better.
Clean. If you’re showing your home on a regular basis, you want it to sparkle. There’s a reason a lot of people choose this season for big “spring cleaning” projects – it’s a great time to cast off the dust and grit of winter. Wash windows, sweep floors, garages, and driveways, and clean less accessible areas like gutters and the insides of light fixtures. If you doubt your abilities as a cleaner or just don’t have the time to dedicate to making your home shine, consider hiring a cleaning service for a comprehensive, one-time cleaning.
Focus on curb appeal. Spring is a great time of year to showcase the exterior of a home because a few landscaping tricks can result in an entirely fresh look. Fresh mulch and a few spring plantings or hanging baskets can really spruce up a property. A landscaping service can haul off dead leaves, twigs, and other detritus left from the fall and winter. Consider buying a new welcome mat or a tasteful seasonal wreath for your front door.
Freshen things up. Throw open the windows and let some fresh air inside! Homes can seem buttoned up after a long winter, so let the fresh air do your work for you. If you’re doing any repainting, use clean, neutral colors. Shore up anything that is in disrepair – or hire someone to do it for you. Vases of fresh flowers and a few new throw pillows can make a home seem like new.
By investing a little time before your list your house, you can have it looking “show ready” the day that it goes on the market. If you need a few ideas to get you started, pick up a copy of a magazine showcasing real estate. There’s a reason certain homes show well – and your home can be one of them.
