Thinking about putting your home on the market this spring, but not sure how to get it ready to sell? If so, you’ve come to the right place!
Spring and summer are generally considered the best time of year to sell your home: More buyers start looking once the weather warms up, which increases the potential for more attention on your home — and more showings!
But, in most cases, you can’t list your home as-is and expect to get top dollar for your home sale. You need to prepare. There are a few things you can do to increase the value of your home and draw in buyers (and no, they don’t all involve spending big bucks!).
Here’s a list to get you started: seven ways to get your home ready to sell this spring.
1. Take Care of Basic Repairs and Upkeep
First, make sure everything in your home is in good working order. Now is the time to get caught up on any deferred maintenance.
- Repair or replace burnt out lightbulbs, leaky faucets, loose steps or railings, broken switches or door knobs, and other items that need some TLC.
- Have your HVAC unit serviced and change the air filter.
- Clean out the gutters.
- Have a roof inspection done and make repairs as needed.
- Repair obvious cosmetic damage, such as holes or dents in the walls, water damage, peeling paint, or cracked windows.
You might also consider replacing dated hardware or light fixtures throughout the home with more modern styles or replacing old kitchen appliances with new, more efficient models.
Make sure to keep track of all repairs and improvements you make, as that is great information to include in marketing your home. In addition, before you make changes, check in with your REALTOR® for help determining if the return on your investment of time and money is worth it. In some cases, you might be better off getting your home on the market sooner.
2. Clean, Declutter, and Depersonalize
Never underestimate the power of a clean house!
Not only will cleaning your home make it sparkle and smell fresh to potential buyers, but it could also help you get more money for your home. According to a Homelight study, decluttering and deep cleaning your home could add more than $4,000 to your home’s resale value.
We’d say that’s worth busting out the mop bucket for!
Deep clean your home from top to bottom, including washing windows, cleaning carpets, and polishing hardwood floors. Wipe out cabinets and dust surfaces, including ceiling fans, lamps, and baseboards. If you have pets, do your best to get rid of any pet smells in the home. Wash pet beds and crates, vacuum furniture your pet likes to lounge on, and use pet odor and stain remover as needed.
In addition to giving your home a thorough cleaning, it’s important to declutter and depersonalize your home to reduce distractions to potential buyers. Pack up personal items, such as family photos, collections, sports memorabilia, and knicknacks, and remove magnets and photos from the fridge.
Clear off countertops and other surfaces, including kitchen and bathroom countertops. Keep only essentials out, like a (clean) coffee maker, toaster, and other items you use daily. Stash everything else in cupboards or pack it up for your move.
Need help knowing where to start? As part of our listing package, the Centric Homes team includes a complimentary staging consultation where you’ll receive recommendations from a staging professional!
3. Add a Fresh Coat of Paint
Aside from cleaning, there’s nothing like fresh paint to help make a home feel new again! Replace chipped or cracked paint or dated wallpaper with a fresh coat of paint in a neutral color.
Why a neutral color? Because bright, bold colors can be distracting to buyers. Plus, not everyone has the same taste — keeping things neutral creates a clean slate that helps buyers envision the home with their belongings in it.
As you’re painting, don’t forget to touch up trim and baseboards, as they can take quite a beating in day-to-day life.
Also, when you list with the Centric Homes team, you’ll get a free home staging consultation that includes recommendations for paint colors based on current trends and what will photograph and show well. We want to help set you up for success with your home sale, and making your home look its best is a big part of that.
4. Consider a Few Updates
Beyond the basic repairs and painting we mentioned earlier, if you have the time and budget you might consider making some updates. Here are a few that typically offer good ROI for sellers:
- Kitchen or bathroom updates. Kitchens and bathrooms sell a house! And you don't necessarily have to do a full remodel to reap the benefits. Instead, go for smaller changes that make a big impact, such as painting cabinets, replacing hardware, and updating lighting.
- New or refinished flooring is another update that buyers love to see. Have scuffed hardwood floors refinished, replace worn or stained carpeting, and replace chipped or cracked tiles with new tiling.
- Update window coverings. Putting up new blinds is a relatively low-cost project that can really brighten up your home. As with paint colors, keep blinds neutral.
As we mentioned earlier, keep a record of any updates you make, and check in with your REALTOR® before you begin to discuss the impact of the updates on market timing and your ROI.
5. Refresh Your Curb Appeal
Your home’s first impression starts long before a buyer even sets foot in your house. If a buyer pulls up to a showing and your home’s exterior doesn’t look appealing, they’re going to have a poor impression of it before they even get out of the car.
Tending to your home’s exterior — including the yard, driveway, siding, and front door — will help you draw in more potential buyers.
A well-landscaped yard is attractive to buyers. Clean out garden beds, add fresh mulch, and plant flowers to add color. Prune trees and shrubs, clean up clutter and debris in the yard, and keep the grass mowed. In addition, power washing and sealing your driveway can help make it look like new again.
Tend to the exterior of your home as well by touching up chipped or faded paint on trim around windows and doors, painting or staining wood porches and decks, and adding a fresh coat of paint to the front door. You may also want to repaint your home’s exterior if it needs it, replace any damaged siding, and clean your siding (consult the manufacturer’s recommendations for cleaning your type of siding).
6. Stage Your Home
Staging your home helps show it at its best and helps buyers envision their life in their new home. (Plus, staging helps make your listing photos pop!)
Here are a few ideas to give you an idea of how staging works:
- Remove bulky furniture to maximize floor space and make a room feel bigger and brighter.
- Stage rooms for their original purpose. For example, if you've been using one of the bedrooms as a storage space, clear it out and style it with a bed, night stand, and perhaps a small desk.
- Arrange furniture strategically to create a natural flow throughout the home.
- Remove personal items and clutter, and uses wall art, colorful pillows, and a few pieces or decor to accent your space.
- Remove dark or heavy curtains to highlight the windows and let in more natural light.
- For listing photos and showings, open all curtains and blinds to bring in natural light. If it's warm enough outside, open the windows to get some fresh air flowing!
Want more ideas for home staging? Check out this blog.
It’s also a good idea to meet with a professional home stager prior to having your listing photos taken. In many cases, you can either hire them to stage your home for you or simply have them consult with you on what changes will make your home look its best.
When you list your home with Centric Homes, we provide a complimentary home staging consultation which includes recommendations based on current trends and what will make your home look its best for photos and showings. Don’t forget to take advantage of this service!
7. Have a Trusted REALTOR® by Your Side
Last, but certainly not least, one of the best ways to ensure a successful home sale is to hire an experienced, trusted REALTOR®. Your REALTOR® can help you prioritize the projects you need to do to get your home ready to sell this spring and make sure your home is priced right for the current market.
At Centric Homes, our REALTORS® will guide you through the entire home selling process — not only preparing your home to sell, but every step of what often seems a very daunting journey.
If you’re considering listing your home for sale this spring, the Centric Homes team would love to help you accomplish that goal. Contact us to discuss how we can support you in your home selling journey.
