There’s a commonly held belief in the real estate industry that spring is the best time of the year for selling a home. Although the season doesn’t officially start until September 1, now would be the time to start planning to make sure your property stands out from the rest.
Every aspect of the season can work in a seller’s favour. With the sun shining, the flowers in bloom, this not only makes your home look its best, but it also encourages buyers to get out and attend open inspections. It is important to remember that other sellers will also benefit from these conditions. Selling your home in spring means you’ll be faced with a higher degree of local competition than you would during the winter months. If you’re thinking of selling your home this spring, a good local real estate agent can help you increase the sale price.
To help make your property stand out from the competition, you’ll need to put in a bit of extra effort. One of the first areas to address is your property’s exterior appearance, because this is the first thing that buyers will see. You will want to put some effort into improving your kerb appeal. Take good care of your lawn by tidying your yard with a lawnmower, fixing dead or bald patches in the grass with a bit of fertiliser. Pull weeds and plant new flowers to add vibrant touches of colour to the garden. Flowers like daffodils and tulips are a good choice, because yellow is associated with feelings of optimism and happiness.
At the same time, be sure that the street view of your home is clear for viewers. Clear away any large bushes or trees that are in the way of a buyer’s line of vision by trimming stray branches. You may want to hire a professional gardener who has experience pruning trees for larger jobs, because this can be dangerous to do on your own.
Maximising the External Appeal
Although it is easy to overlook exterior areas like the outdoor nooks and crannies of the property, buyers will look everywhere. They can trek a great deal of muck throughout the property in winter, so you’ll need to give the full exterior of the home a good spring clean to make the best first impression. If you neglect these areas of the house, buyers may assume that you have neglected others.
Maximising the Interior Appeal
With the outdoor area of your home looking fresh and well-maintained, you can turn your attention to the interior of the home. Make the most of the spring sunlight by ensuring that it bounces off of clean, polished surfaces. By polishing your chrome fittings, floors, mirrors, glass, and door knobs, the light will really make these surfaces dazzle as it streams in through the windows during inspections. This will make the house look immaculate and create a great impression on buyers. Otherwise, the light will illuminate problem areas like dusty corners instead.
It’s a good idea to capitalize on the sunlight by pulling back all of your drapes and curtains, let the light in and bathe your home in a warm glow. You can also open up the windows to let the fresh air in and get rid of any residual stuffiness from winter. Air fresheners can bother buyers with allergies, so fresh air is preferable. To further benefit from spring’s effect, position vases of freshly-cut flowers throughout the home. This will help appeal to a buyer’s senses with the combination of bright colours and delicate fragrance.
Increase Buyer Interest with Colour
In line with appealing to the senses, use colour when selling your house. Colour can be an effective tool to influence a buyer’s mood. Bright, light, cheerful colours can create an uplifting atmosphere. Replace old bath mats, linens, throws, and pillows and replace them in complementary colours that fit the spring theme. A fresh coat of light, pale paint can also bring out the best in your home by making spaces seem larger. The overall effect could lead to a quicker offer from buyers.
No matter when you choose to sell your home, it’s important to be willing to adapt to the season and circumstances. Spring provides an abundance of advantages to sellers, helping you appeal to a buyer’s wish to make a fresh start as well.
These tips may be for selling your home, but our mortgage broking team can also help you with the purchase of a new home. Whether it be refinancing or getting a mortgage. If you would like more information, please contact our friendly staff today.