Spring is around the corner and slowly, people are starting to come alive after winter hibernation. This also means that people are starting to potentially think about moving house – if this is something that has been on their mind. Perhaps young families’ young ones are now at schooling age and parents need to consider moving to their preferred school district, or perhaps you are looking to downsize, or even needing to hunt for a larger home for your growing family.
At PropertyFox – Moot we’re also starting to see more potential property buyers pop out to view houses, and we generally see this increased interest over September, October and November every year. As the weather gets warmer, buyers are more willing to get out and explore. Therefore, families eager to move during the summer months, or to make a new start in conjunction with the New Year, will need to find and make offers on their homes several months prior.
If you’re considering placing your property on the market, now is a good time, and if you’ve had your property on the market during the winter months, here are some tips to help you rejuvenate it for those spring buyers.
12 Tips to help you sell your property this spring:
1. Wash windows inside and out, and polish all mirrors.
Sparkle is free, and it sells homes. A potential buyer may not realize why your home seems so inviting but will feel drawn to it if the windows are spotless and your mirrors reflect sunlight. Cleaning is the first step in preparing your home for a sale.
2. Wipe down all cupboards – especially the kitchen.
The two primary rooms buyers pay more attention to are the kitchen and bathroom. If you spend any additional time cleaning any rooms it should be these. Most kitchens sell homes by themselves! Wipe down any grime, dust or dirt on the outside of your cupboards with a damp cloth, and also pay attention to your stove backsplash area.
3. Check your cornices and skirtings – if they look drab, give them a lick of paint
Experienced buyers will always look at your floor, your skirtings and cornices. It is a tell-tale sign to see if there was any damage in the house previously – such as a burst geyser or rising damp that could easily bring down your asking price. If you can get away with a quick wipe-down of these surfaces – great! But if they’re looking rather tired, a quick coat of paint on your skirtings will make the world of difference to the rooms without having to paint the walls!
4. Rake the yard and trim the back bushes.
Clean out any dead shrubs, leaves and debris in your lawn. Don’t let overgrown vegetation block the windows or path to the entrance. Cutting bushes and tree limbs will let the sun inside and showcase the exterior of your home. It will also seem like you looked after the place and took pride in your home – which is very appealing to house hunters.
5. Mow your lawn diagonally and don’t miss the edge lawn along your driveway and sidewalks.
Artfully-manicured lawns are given an edge and tell buyers you pay attention to small details. Diagonally mowed lawns make your yard appear larger.
6. Transplant bright coloured flowers in planter boxes or buy flowers in containers.
Yellow flowers specifically stimulate buying urges. After a long winter, everybody is anxious to see the first signs of spring. Yellow and pink “vygies” and daisies induce feelings of happiness and contentment. Arrange containers in groups of three or five near the entrance.
7. Clean drapes, curtains and blinds, and open every window.
Send your window coverings to the dry cleaners or wash, dry, and press them. Toss blinds into a soapy bathtub for a quick wash. Get rid of all accumulated dust and spider webs. Crisp linens and a spring-time breeze through the windows invite the season inside.
8. Set out fresh flowers.
Freshly-cut Delicious Monster branches, lavender stems or jasmine bunches bring life to your space. Natural scents are more appealing than artificial, and trigger fewer allergies among those susceptible. Clever home staging brings colour and fragrance indoors.
9. Clean & Polish floors to a high gloss.
Give your hardwood floors a quick once-over with a wooden floor polish, but not too much to make your potential buyers slip! Make your ceramic and linoleum floors twinkle and shine. If you really want to go the extra mile, bleach dull grout and thoroughly clean all area rugs. By the time you’re done, you’re probably not going to want to sell anymore!
10. Utilize towels, throws, and pillows in light colours like pastels.
Even if it means replacing items, towels, linens, throws and sofa pillows are inexpensive accents you can buy. In soft spring colours, they will light up a room. Or get neutral colours you could use again all year round. Layer towels on bathroom towel racks and place a nice throw over your bed to make it feel more inviting.
11. Offer an outdoor mat for cleaning shoes.
No matter where you live, spring weather is often unpredictable. If it’s raining, give buyers a place to stash umbrellas and wipe their feet before entering your home. Having an outdoor mat at both your front door and any outer door will also help keep your house clean especially after the hard work you’ve just put into it to make it clean!
12. Turn on the bedroom side table lights.
Even with a beautiful sunny day, having your bedside table lamps on makes for an inviting ambience.
We know that keeping things constantly neat & tidy is sometimes a pain. If it gets too much for you, hire a cleaner for an extra day, or make use of an on-demand cleaning service for a few hours before any viewings. It may seem like a lot of work, but it’s going to increase demand and get your house sold so much faster when you do.
Paying attention to the little things, will also help you get closer to your asking price – especially when someone can’t find any fault.