Have You Had Thoughts About Selling This Spring?

The flowers are beginning to bloom and it’s time to clean up the yard. Spring is now in full swing! If you are like many though, you had plenty of time over Winter to think about the future. Did one of those thoughts happen to involve selling your home? If so, as you begin your Spring cleaning checklist perhaps we can help. Below are our recommendations of 8 ways to get ready to sell your home this Spring.

Now if you have already made a list that is 3 pages long of things you believe will help prepare to sell a home, it may have unnecessary tasks. We always recommend speaking with an experienced real estate agent when making any changes before selling. Popular trends change all the time and you can save yourself a lot of time and money with the right guidance. Feel free to contact us to be paired with the right professional for your situation.

So, without further ado let’s get started with 8 Ways to Get Ready To Sell Your Home This Spring!

1. Let the Light Shine In!

Get some natural light flowing in to brighten up the space. Winter is a cold and dark time of year and perhaps you kept the drapes pulled tight in order to keep a chilly room warm. Get the drapes opened up to allow as much natural light in as possible. Also, if you have had the same decorative valances on the windows for several years, it may be time to take them down. Replacing the current decorative window pieces with new modern window treatments will be a big improvement.

2. Wash The Windows, Fix The Screens

This one goes hand-in-hand with number 1, but really is a separate task. Over time the windows become dirty and sometimes neglected, especially on non-ground level floors. Cleaning the windows will put a nice sparkle on the exterior and when buyers look outside, show off your awesome yard from the interior. Clean windows will certainly help allow more natural light into the home, but show buyers that this is a well kept home. Take things a step further and make sure that all of the windows have screens and if they need replacing, now would be a good time. PRO TIP: When cleaning your windows, just use a bucket of water with a few drops of liquid dish soap. Pour the solution into a spray bottle, grab a squeegee and get cleaning! This combination will keep the windows streak free, which is helpful when you have to climb a ladder.

3. Watching Paint Dry

Nobody really likes to watch paint dry, but seeing a room in a fresh coat feels great! If your walls haven’t seen a fresh coat of paint in several years, you may want to consider doing it. One thing to keep in mind, however, is rarely do two homeowners enjoy the same color palettes. Keep it simple with neutral, whites and grey colors, because chances are the next owner will change it. Remembering that you are just freshening up the room will save you money and paint anxiety.

4. If It Is Broken – Fix It.

Life happens and things break. That’s just the way it is when owning a home. Fixing things that may have gone into disrepair over time will save headaches down the road. A potential buyer will be performing a home inspection when the deal wheels start to spin. Staying ahead of the game by making necessary repairs will get your home sold faster and without surprises. We recommend getting a pre-sale home inspection to identify any of the major issues that will come up later. Unless you are a very handy homeowner or a contractor, doing it alone is risky. If it’s been many years since you bought your home, you certainly won’t remember what a home inspector looks for.

5. Small Renovations

If you have been in your home for many years, you may have done some updating. Since it is no secret though, raising a family may not make it easy to keep up with every home trend. However, just because you are ready to sell the home doesn’t mean you have to do large-scale renovations. The average kitchen renovation will cost approximately $60,000 and may only add half of that in value. So, unless you are ready to disrupt your family with renovations, we recommend you think small renovations. Rather than changing out your cabinetry, start with just replacing the doors or even just the hardware. Similar to the paint palette picks mentioned above, a buyer may be in love with the house itself or the location, but end up changing the kitchen anyway. Especially if Gordon Ramsey is the buyer! Instead, we recommend focusing on the exterior. Since the first thing a buyer will see is when they walk up to the house, first impressions are everything. Change out the tired garage door or  add some enticing masonry to the facade. If you have done all that, think about adding some outdoor lighting to make the home shine even in the dark.

6. The Little Things

As you make your way around the house checking things off your list, take notice to small things. Make sure all of the light fixtures are free of dead bulbs (replacing with LED for energy efficiency). Pay attention to things that may have acquired an odor over time, such as old throw rugs or a room that has carpet flooring when all the others are wood. Similarly, change the filters in your HVAC system so the air being pushed around the house is clean, especially in case the temperature climbs quickly.

7. Remove Clutter

If you are like nearly every homeowner, over the years you have acquired a lot of stuff. Potential buyers coming into your home will certainly take notice. Spend a day or two room by room removing the clutter that has accumulated. Some things will just need a bit of organizing, but many others can be discarded (you will surprise yourself). As you start this process, just keep in mind the things you get rid of will be less you have to move to your new space. Also, like the exterior, the entryway to your home will be the first area that buyers see. Remove any unnecessary items like umbrellas and the collection of Winter coats, shoes and similar items.

8. Get Outside

Nothing is more beautiful than a well cared for front yard. When you are finished with the interior, make sure not to neglect the outside. If you have any flower beds, grab a few bags of mulch and freshen up a bit. Give any shrubbery a little hair cut and add some spring flowers. If you are listing your home immediately, remember that bulbs won’t show up until next year. Instead, stop by the local garden shop and pick up some springtime flowers that are already blooming in pots. Although if you are just preparing to sell, but the house won’t be on the market for a few more weeks, get plants that will be in bloom at that time.

Conclusion

Preparing a home for sale doesn’t have to require taking out an additional mortgage. With the right guidance and a little planning, you can stretch out the costs (if there are any) and net the most amount at the closing table. Getting the home ready for sale can even be a family affair. As you get ready to begin the next chapter of your life, bring everyone on board to help close out this one. Remember the good times and the memories made all the while getting ready to make some more in the next home. If you feel overwhelmed or just need a few suggestions for what to do to prepare for selling your home this spring, reach out to us and we would be happy to lend a hand!

Mark Grimes is an experienced Realtor® with RE/MAX Homeland West. You can visit his website or contact him via Facebook.