Ten Ways to Get Your Seller’s Home Ready to List in Time for Spring Selling Season.

Springtime is here and homebuying season will soon be in full swing. If you’ve got clients thinking about selling their home, now’s the time to get their house ready to wow prospective buyers. Don’t wait!

We all know that Spring is the perfect season to showcase a house when flowers and trees are in full bloom and buyers begin coming out in full force.

And while sellers are king in most markets because of low inventory, there’s still a trick to making a house stand out so you can get full asking price. With these few easy tips, you can make your seller’s home look the best it’s ever been and get it sold in no time.

Let Natural Light Do The Work

Everyone loves natural light. Lighten up the rooms in the house by opening curtains and raising shades to let natural light in - in some room where there’s privacy, your sellers may elect to remove window treatments and shades altogether. Dust off decorative items and windows and floors throughout the house so the natural light can shine through and be sure to remove items that have faded from the sun.

Add A Fresh Coat of Paint

Applying a fresh coat of paint can obviously improve the appearance of the house significantly and leave an amazing first impression. Encourage your sellers to hire a professional painter who has the proper materials and will get the job done right the first time. Because repainting can be expensive, get several different quotes to make sure your clients are comfortable you’ve done your research. It’s important to pick the right professional as a sloppy paint job can leave an unfavorable impression on buyers.

Updating the Art

A simple and inexpensive upgrade to boost your home while showing is to update the art inside.  Taking down personal photos and replacing them with something more generic that enhances the decor will add a polished freshness that viewers can feel comfortable and see themselves living in.

Bring Some Spring Scents Into Your Home

Unpleasant scents can kill a home sale. Get rid of any odors from your seller’s pets, cooked foods, or old textiles such as carpets and throw rugs. Spring is a great time to buy flowers and bring natural fragrances into a house and your clients will see you going the extra mile to help them sell. Buy spring scented candles and consider asking your clients to have the carpets and rugs professionally cleaned if needed.

Decluttering Your Home

This is important to showcase not only the cleanliness of your home but also the potential space that a potential homebuyer may have.  Getting rid of anything unnecessary that is out in the open and keeping your home looking minimal and clean is key.  Make sure everything in your home has an organic place and nothing feels forced.

What to do With Your Pet Goods When Showing

We all love our furry little companions, but keeping their stuff out of view is probably best in this situation. You also have to consider home viewers' pet allergies. For dog beds, food/water bowls, or other accessories consider moving them to a more secluded place like the laundry room or closet.  If you have a cat and litter box, you may want to consider temporarily moving it outdoors or into the garage to avoid any smells coming into the house.

Fresh Plants Inside and Out

It’s Springtime and you should show it off at your house. Replace your outside landscaping with some fresh plants and flowers to really brighten things up.  You can also bring some of that Springtime inside and have beautiful and beautifully smelling flowers to brighten up the inside of your house.

Small Renovations Can Go a Long Way

Renovating a house can be expensive and maybe the last thing your clients want to do before selling. But you know they may actually be able to recoup the cost of renovations and maybe even more. Prepare a list of items that could be refinished or easily renovated and those that would take more work with potential expenses compared to how much more you could list the home for.

For example, rather than replacing doors and cabinets, you could recommend your clients repaint or simply add new hardware to the cabinets. Remember that curb appeal can go a long way in making a good first impression, so don’t forget to include updates to the landscape and front walkways. If it’s within the budget, you can propose that your sellers have a pre-inspection to identify anything that needs repairs before the house goes on the market.

Photography is a Difference Maker

In most cases, a potential buyer’s very first impression of your home is through a photograph.  Taking the time to create quality photos of your home or hiring a professional could truly be a difference-maker in selling your home this Spring.  Showcase your home in a way that is beautiful. Enticing, realistic, and having your viewers desperate to learn more about it.

Take Advantage of the Spring Market

There is no better time to show off your seller’s home than during the spring season but the time to act is now. With these four tips, you’ll be the expert your clients need to sell your home and you’ll be better positioned to get them top dollar for their investment.

For more information on getting your home ready to sell, check out the Home Seller’s Guide from Realty ONE Group!