After a cold and dark winter season, many of us look forward to the signs of warmer weather. While that may include frequent visits to the park or outdoor dining at your favorite brunch spot, it also signifies the beginning of the house-selling cycle.
Thanks to the temperate weather, selling a house in the spring is a common trend, as buyers can fully realize the space they have to work with and then quickly make home improvements. Additionally, many buyers look to move in the warmer months since they can utilize their vacation time for the move and not worry about disrupting the school year if they have kids.
If you want to put your house on the market in the coming months, continue reading to learn some home-selling tips to make your property stand out.
2023 Market Trends
Last year, the market struggled to combat a housing shortage with higher interest rates. Interest rates hit their record high in the fall of 2022, making home ownership less affordable for potential buyers. Overall, the housing market does not have enough homes for those looking to purchase, and buyers must still face higher interest rates if they wish to acquire property.
Despite low inventory, there are still plenty of buyers seeking homes and new housing in recent months. Those who avoided purchasing a property last year realized that interest rates will not drastically decrease in the near future, meaning now is as opportune a time as any to move forward with a real estate transaction.
While buyers no longer waive contingencies, purchase sight unseen, or engage in bidding wars, the market continues to witness activity. Heading into the summer season, sellers continue to upkeep their property to entice buyers. A well-maintained property can charge a higher sales price and conjure interest from multiple prospective owners. Savvy sellers still have opportunities to generate a robust profit from putting their homes on the market.
Embrace the Spirit of Spring (or Summer) Cleaning
A dirty and ill-maintained home will stick out to a buyer for the wrong reasons. Sellers should take time to clean their homes before putting them on the market to ensure buyers pay attention to the property’s positive features during a tour or open house.
Spend some time creating a list of all the spaces you regularly, and not so regularly, clean. You may go the cost-effective route and complete these tasks independently. Or, you can hire a professional cleaning service and get your house in excellent condition within a day or two.
Sellers should consider taking the following steps when cleaning:
Declutter
This is a great time to eliminate things you don’t want to take to your next home. While you may not take time to pack your home during this phase, it is a good opportunity to take an initial pass through each room and identify items you do not plan to keep around.
Sellers can host a garage sale, list on online marketplaces, or follow their local government’s rules for placing items on the curb for trash pickup. Homeowner’s association members should consult with their HOA rules and regulations before hosting events or putting large items out for disposal.
Additionally, if you live in an area with cold winters, you likely have a separate wardrobe comprised of bulky sweaters and thicker pants. Since these items take up more space in your closet, they make closet space appear smaller than it is. Store these items in the garage, attic, or another area of the home to ensure the closet shines to a potential buyer.
Learn more:Spring Cleaning: How to Responsibly Replace Household Items
Tackling Bathrooms
Scrub down your surfaces, including the tub and shower, counter, toilet, etc. Consider deep cleaning or regrouting areas that need special attention.
Clean the Appliances
Buyers will spend time reviewing the kitchen and heavily consider it when deciding to purchase a home. While now is not the time for sellers to conduct a renovation, they can ensure each item is clean, and the appliances are in good condition. Since the warmer months can attract more pests, those with a history of insect issues may also recruit the help of an exterminator.
Inspect Windows and Mirrors
Glass surfaces can become a home for dust and dirt, so sellers should spend time cleaning windows and mirrors around the home. While a store-bought glass cleaner can do the trick, those with larger homes can consider hiring a window cleaning service to expedite the process.
Learn more: How to Spring Clean Your Home for Selling
Strategically Market Your Home
Sellers must consider how their property looks to prospective buyers before they enter the home. When a real estate agent presents a buyer with options, the buyer likely reviews the home on a screen, piece of paper, or by driving by the property. Therefore, sellers must consider how they market their home looks online and on the street.
Increase Curb Appeal
Sellers should invest in physical landscaping outside of their homes. One of the easiest ways to increase the value of a property is to spruce up the exterior by trimming bushes, planting shrubs and flowers, tending to the lawn, and filling in spotty grass patches. Fences and stairs should receive a fresh coat of paint. Sellers should consider water preservation measures from their local government when planting grass, flowers, and shrubbery.
If you live in a metropolitan area without a front yard, you may have a garden area that you tend to. Clean up and tend to the plants before showing the unit. Additionally, if your building does not have a garden but you are interested in creating one to showcase to prospective buyers, you can speak with your condo or co-op about planting one.
For homes with a backyard, follow the same practices as you do for the front yard. If you have unique features like a deck, pool, or garden, this is where you can make them shine. Consider renting a power washer to clean your deck and sand and stain it. Clean your pool and open it up for the season, even if you don’t plan to swim in it. These aspects make your home unique and help you stand out against competing homes.
You may consider putting a fresh coat of paint on the house and front door. While most people will prefer neutral, clean colors, there may be a benefit in making bold choices that complement the house.
Hire a Photographer
Most homebuyers browse online listings to find properties they would like to visit. When they land on your home’s listing, that is their first impression of the space, and you want to grab their attention from that initial contact. Hire a professional specializing in real estate photography to best showcase your space.
Real estate photographers help capture your entire space and display it in a welcoming light. If you’re working with a real estate agent, they might recommend virtually staging your home, which involves a professional photo editor placing furniture into the photos. Virtually staged photos help buyers visualize the space. These digital marketing tools are the key to your success, as homes with professional photos sell for more money and come off the market faster than homes without them.
Host A Show-Stopping Open House
While some sellers may not decide to host an open house, those who do should ensure to put their home in the strongest possible light. With many potential buyers entering the property at a time, sellers should work with their listing agent to make the home shine.
Stage the Home
Some sellers may not have their physical items on the property by the time they host an open house. Or, they may have outdated furniture that does not appeal to potential buyers. In this case, they can hire a professional staging crew to supply furniture for the duration of the open house. Stagers use furniture that blends well with the home and does not district from the features and amenities of the actual property.
Staging, similar to virtual staging in photography, helps buyers conceptualize the amount of furniture they can place in a room. Buyers can find it difficult to envision the makeup of a room, and simplifying this process may help their touring process.
Use Flowers and Greenery to Decorate
Flowers and green plants can make a space feel more inviting, creating a positive experience for a prospective buyer. Sellers can replace personal items like photographs and trinkets with plants to make the home feel properly decorated.
Sellers can choose from common flowers like tulips, lilies, and hydrangeas, as they do not have a strong scent and generally will not provoke allergies. If you are bringing flowers into your home, check to make sure they are not poisonous to any pets you have, and then keep up with their care and replace them if needed.
Use the Power of a Fresh Scent
Sometimes, a home can carry a specific and displeasing odor. To prevent buyers from immediately turning their nose at a home, sellers should consider bringing fresh scents into the space. They can do so with air fresheners and candles, fresh flowers, or by simply airing out the property by opening the windows.
Sellers can light candles or spray air fresheners the day or a few hours before guests enter the home. This gives the scent enough time to diffuse and will make it less noticeable for buyers. An overwhelming fresh smell can be just as off-putting to buyers as an unpleasant odor, so sellers should make sure not to go overboard.
The following scents do not overpower a room:
- Fresh laundry (usually has descriptive terms like cotton and linen,)
- Rain or freshwater,
- Vanilla that is not too strong.
Consider Your Moving Plan
Consider your moving timeline before you put your house on the market. If you plan on purchasing a new home, make sure there is no projected gap in between when you will leave your current house and be able to live in the new one.
In some cases, the timeline may not perfectly align. Sellers may have to move out of their property before they finalize their new living arrangements or before they can move into a new space. Therefore, they should create a backup plan to ensure they have a place to sleep and an area for their belongings. Research the rates for storage units and hotels, and reach out to nearby friends or family who will not mind guests for a short period of time.
Looking to buy a home next? Learn more from the RealtyHop Mortgage Center
Conclusion
You can get your home ready for the busy selling season by cleaning, sprucing up, and then taking steps to showcase the features properly. While the above tips are for those looking to list their home in the warmer seasons, most advice applies year-round. Putting effort into and then maintaining the condition of your home during the selling process can help you raise the asking price and then receive higher offers. The work you put in now will appeal to buyers looking for beautiful homes, and you’ll sell before you know it!
