Spring is in the Air! Today we’ll be talking about preparing and staging your home for selling in the spring and summer. Many of the ideas and suggestions will apply anytime you’re selling a home, but regardless of the type of market, inventory almost always rises in the spring. Homes typically show better as the weather warms, the grass turns green, and we’re able to open up our homes to the outside air and light.
The condition of a home and it’s curb appeal will greatly affect showings and ultimately the sales price. There’s basically two types of buyers out there: 1) Those who want a bargain on a “fixer” so they can complete the repairs and gain equity, and 2) Those who will pay a premium price for a “move-in ready” home.
Since sellers are anxious to put the least amount of money into a home they’re going to be selling, they want to make the most cost effective improvements to their yard:
Maintenance: Watering, Mowing, Trimming, Edging
A green, lush lawn goes a long way in curb appeal! Keep it watered, weed & feed as necessary and keep it well mowed and trimmed. Edge the lawn along the curb, driveway and sidewalks for best impact. Re-seed any patchy areas.
If your flower beds are lacking or non-existent, a weed-mat covered with fresh bark will give great “oomph!” for low cost and extremely low maintenance. Especially helpful if selling a vacant home!
Speaking of maintenance, it might be smart to hire a professional home inspector prior to listing — the buyers will love the fact that you’ve already had the inspection. You can provide them a copy of the inspection report, with repairs that you’ve already made highlighted, along with copies of receipts showing how you repaired the item. Some of the deferred exterior maintenance items that may typically show up on a home inspection report also impact the curb appeal of your home. Maximize curb appeal and showings by being certain to address such items as:
Trim tree branches away from the roof and overhead lines.
Clean leaves and debris out of rain gutters.
Keep rain/sprinklers away from the foundation and/or window wells. (Well maintained rain gutters and spinkler heads.)
Wood, whether it’s the siding, trim or deck on a house, needs to be properly maintained to eliminate any peeling paint and bare wood needs a good coat of stain.
Decks and patios can really be a showcase in the spring and summer. This time of year a deck is a fun place to stage. An appropriately sized patio set helps a buyer fall in love with the idea of spending quiet evenings enjoying the outdoors of their home. Spread out a colorful tablecloth or place mats and a pitcher of lemonade before showings for great impact.
Color really sells in the spring and summer. A few easy ideas to bring color to the curb appeal of a home include:
Hanging Plants and Pots/Planters on porches, steps, patios, etc. instantly brighten everything! Group 3 potted arrangements together on the corner of your porch, patio or deck. (Then, if you want to take those potted plants with you to your next home, it’s easy.)
Annuals are typically low-cost and bright colors to last the summer! Plant a few annuals stategically in the yard where they can be seen from the street.
We’ve talked a lot about the exterior of our homes. Next time we’ll discuss what we can do to prepare the interior of our home for sale.
I’d love to help you in all of your REAL ESTATE NEEDS. Give me a call today!
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