With Winter starting to fade away, temperatures are rising and Spring is in site! This time of year is one of the busiest times in real estate. The warmer weather, the longer days, and flowers beginning to bloom, has many people thinking about purchasing their dream homes, which makes it the perfect time to list yours. When getting ready to list, many people do not even know where to begin.
Here are five tips for getting your home ready for a Spring sale.
1. Spring Cleaning.
The first step in the home selling process is to start de-cluttering. Go through your home and decide what can be donated, thrown away, or sold. A de-cluttered home not only sells more quickly, but it also helps you be ahead of the game when the time comes to start packing.
2. Stage.
While you are doing your Spring cleaning, this is a good time to start the staging process. Remove as many personal items as you can from the home, such as family photos or kid’s art projects and replace them with neutral art pieces. Replace knickknacks with plants. Add some neutral throw pillows and blankets to your couch.
3. Curb Appeal.
With the better weather it is a great idea to also start cleaning outside. Step out and check your home’s curb appeal from a buyer’s point of view. Do your bushes and trees need trimming? Do you need to add more bark to the garden? Is your house number easy to find? Does your front door need some fresh paint?
4. Maintenance or Repairs.
During the cleaning process it also allows for you to take note of what needs to be updated, replaced, or repaired. You don’t need to get caught up in huge expensive remodels, but fresh paint and light fixtures can go a long way! Also, pay attention to anything that would hinder the inspection process- roof issues, pipe leaks, exposed electrical, etc.
5. Choose a Real Estate Agent.
The most important thing to do to get ready to sell is find an agent you can trust. Checking your area online for top agents is a good place to start. Another way to go is word of mouth recommendations. A real estate agent is key because they can help you with the entire process from beginning to end- listing, pricing, and negotiating. Then they can help find you a new home once yours is sold.
Your home is now ready to list! Remember once it is listed, you will want to keep on top of the cleaning and clutter so it can always be show ready. Make beds, put dishes away, counters cleared off, and add a vase of some fresh flowers to keep it looking and smelling nice!
