Guest Blogger: Carter Wessman
It’s no secret that spring is the best time to sell your home. But just because there will be a flood of buyers doesn’t mean you can sit back and wait for the bidding war to begin. So if you want to sell your home quickly and at the best price possible, check out these 10 springtime home selling tips.
1. Clean your house
If there was ever a good reason to get your spring cleaning done early, this is it. Aside from your normal cleaning checklist, you’ll want to make sure your exterior sparkles and shines. That means a thorough polishing of any glass, be it windows, doors, or what have you. Next, you’ll want to power wash your siding and even your driveway to ensure your house has a nice, fresh look.
If you don’t have a power washer, they are readily available to rent at most hardware stores. Most homebuyers know within seconds of seeing your home if they would live there, so keeping everything clean for a good first impression is crucial.
2. Clean up your yard
Most homeowners know that they need to mow their lawn and tidy up their yard when it comes time for showings. However, if you want to go the extra mile, neatly edge your lawn by the driveway, walkway, and around any trees or gardens. It’s a professional look that tells buyers you care about the details. Even if the potential homebuyer doesn’t make a distinct mental observation, it’s the type of thing that will slip into their subconscious.
3. Open your windows
There’s a certain bit of magic that happens when a soft spring breeze floats in through the windows. That’s especially true after dealing with the cold, dry air all winter long. So keep your windows and any slider doors open and allow your home to breathe. Just make sure you put screens in them because bugs in your house will not help you get the sale.
4. Place hand-picked flowers throughout the house
Nothing compliments a clean spring home like freshly picked flowers. If you can get these right from your own garden, that’s all the more impressive. Not only do flowers make your home look better, but they have a relaxing effect that can work in your favor.
5. Use floral patterns for a seasonal accent
Springtime allows you to tastefully brighten up your home with colorful throw pillows and blankets. You don’t want to have any dreary winter vibes lingering around, and these items provide a stylish way to make sure that doesn’t happen.
6. Get rid of stuff you don’t need
Buyers want to envision themselves living in your home. That can be hard to do if your house is overflowing with your belongings. So take some time to go through all your closets and storage areas and sell, donate, recycle or throw out or donate anything that you can.
7. Take care of repairs before the home inspector comes
There are some fix-it jobs in your home that you don’t need a home inspector to point out, so why wait? Taking care of a leaky faucet, wobbly railing, or squeaky door ahead of time will free up more time and energy for whatever the home inspector finds.
8. Make sure you have quality pictures online
Put those photography skills you’ve been honing with your Instagram account to use and snap plenty of quality pictures for your online posting.
Not a photographer? No problem. You can easily outsource this task to a professional for a very low cost. And if you’re hiring a realtor (which you should be doing), they can take care of this for you.
9. Touch up the imperfections
Your doorknobs might not be broken, but it’s possible they are a little rusty or outdated. There are a lot of small improvements that you can make to your home that won’t cost a lot of money and will contribute to your home’s aesthetic. Take a walk around your house and make note of anything that can be easily replaced or could use a fresh coat of paint.
10. Pick your price carefully
All the bells and whistles are nice but when it comes down to brass tacks, buyers need to be okay with the cost. As a homeowner, you obviously want to get the most out of your home, but setting the price too high can leave you struggling to make a sale.
This is another part of the home selling process where a knowledgeable real estate agent can help. They know your local real estate market and can help you find that magic number that will leave both you and the buyer satisfied.
About Author: Carter Wessman is a writer and marketing analyst at Total Mortgage Services, a nationwide lender based in Milford, Connecticut. He is a mortgage market junkie who closely follows the latest rates and trends.
