How to Sell Your Home in the Spring
Tips for Winning Over Spring-Time Home Buyers
Spring is the optimum time to sell a home. Regardless of whether it's a buyer's market or a seller's market, inventory almost always rises in the spring. Why? Because the largest number of buyers are actively searching for a new home during April, May, and June.
Tip: If your home has been languishing on the market since the holidays, take it off the market. Give it a chance to "cool down" for a few weeks before putting it back on the market. Nobody is going to look at your home in the spring if the DOM show it's been on the market for several months. Buyers gravitate toward fresh, new listings!
Here are 15 things you can do to improve the odds that your home will stand out among the sea of new listings flooding the spring-time real estate market:
Wash Windows Inside and Out/Polish All Mirrors
Sparkle is free, and sparkle sells homes. A potential buyer may not realize why your home seems so inviting but will feel drawn to it if the windows are spotless and your mirrors reflect sunlight. Cleaning is the first step to preparing your home for sale.
Rake the Yard/Trim Back Bushes
Clean out dead leaves and debris in your lawn. Don't let overgrown vegetation block the windows or path to the entrance. Cutting bushes and tree limbs will let the sun inside and showcase the exterior of your home.
Mow Diagonally and Edge Lawn Along Driveway/Sidewalks
Artfully manicured lawns are edged and tell buyers you pay attention to small details. Diagonally mowed lawns make your yard appear larger.
Transplant Tulips and Daffodils or Buy Flowers in Containers
Yellow flowers stimulate buying urges.
Clean Drapes, Curtains & Blinds and Open Every Window
Send your window coverings to the dry cleaners or wash, dry and press.
Set out Fresh-Smelling Flowers Such as Just-Clipped Lilac Branches or Peonies
Why not flatter your neighbors and ask if you can borrow flowers from their yards? Natural scents are more appealing than artificial and trigger fewer allergies among those susceptible. Peony vases are designed to hold peonies upright, but wash the flowers first to avoid carrying ants inside. Clever home staging brings color and fragrance indoors.
Polish Floors to a High Gloss
Your hardwood floors should be refinished, if necessary. Make your ceramic and linoleum floors twinkle and shine. Bleach dull grout. Thoroughly clean all area rugs.
Utilize Towels, Throws, Pillows in Light Colors – Yellows, Pinks, Pale Blues, Lavenders
Even if it means replacing items, towels, linens, throws and sofa pillows are inexpensive accents you can buy. In soft spring colors, they will light up a room. Layer towels on bathroom towel racks and place rolled wash cloths on the counters in a fashionable pyramid.
Offer an Outside Mat for Cleaning Shoes & Put Umbrella Stand at Entrance
No matter where you live, spring weather is often unpredictable.
Fill Sink With Ice to Chill Bottled Water for Guests
Put a couple dozen bottles of water in a sink of ice for buyers. You can also tape labels to the bottles, printed from your computer, with your phone number, a photograph and address of your home.
Set out Treats, Individually Wrapped in Cellophane & Tied With Ribbon
Touring homes makes buyers hungry. Give them a snack. It will give buyers an opportunity to linger in your kitchen and marvel at its elegant appointments, which might otherwise be overlooked.
Power wash
If you power wash the sidewalk and parts of the house, you can improve its curb appeal and excite a potential buyer. Think about it: when a person walks up to a house that was recently cleaned, they will be much more interested. This is an inexpensive way to improve your house, since you can rent a power washer for about $50.
When you are ready to consider selling...
call Kim & Vicky! (250) 514-1663
Content courtesy of https://www.thebalance.com/ and http://www.realestateinsidermag.com