The weather is slowly getting warmer which means the spring selling season is almost upon us. If you’re thinking about selling this spring, now’s the time to get your house looking its best to give you the best chance of getting a fantastic price for your property.
Here are our top nine spring selling tips.
- Declutter
Decluttering is a fantastic way to increase the feeling of space throughout your home. A good way to start is by reviewing what you’ve used in the past 12 months, and what you haven’t.
Once you’ve done your review, pack away anything that is rarely used but still needed. Then throw away, donate, sell or recycle anything you no longer use or like, or anything that’s broken or damaged. Pay particular attention to piles of old paperwork. While this one can be hard going, it’s worth the trouble to clear out some space.
To create even more space, consider temporarily storing large items offsite, perhaps at a friend’s place or storage facility.
- Clean, clean, clean
Giving your home a good spring clean has many benefits, not least of which is the potential to substantially UP your sale price.
When it comes to cleaning, it’s all in the details. Paying attention to the small things can really make a huge difference to a potential buyer.
So:
- Wash windows
- Dust blinds/wash curtains
- Steam clean carpets
- Tidy wardrobes
- Clean the oven
- Scrub all grouting
- Clean up pet or kid mess
- Trim garden bushes
- Edge lawns
- Remove all unwanted rubbish
- Do a ‘smell’ test
After your mammoth cleaning effort, put your nostrils to the test. Does your home smell nice, or is there an off-putting odour lingering?
If it doesn’t smell nice, don’t mask it with air freshener. Seek out the source of the stink and address it.
When it’s time for your open house, consider introducing some welcoming scents such as freshly-cut flowers, brewed coffee and/or baked bread.
- Rethink your colour pallet
Offering potential buyers a blank canvas to work with allows them to easily envision your home as their own.
Try to remove any garish colours, whether that’s artwork or furniture. If your wall colours are a little outdated, consider giving them a repaint in neutral tones. It will do wonders in creating a much broader appeal. Extra tip: don’t forget the architraves and ceilings too!
- Complete half-started repairs
No one wants to move into a home that has unfinished projects at every turn. Take the time to complete any outstanding projects, inside and outside. This includes attending to any minor repairs such as wall cracks or dents, dripping taps, broken tapware, cracked pathways etc.
- Freshen up your fixtures
An easy way to modernise your home is to replace fittings and fixtures. Things like bathroom mirrors, taps, shower heads, cupboard handles and door knobs. These can all be replaced for very little money, and can make a massive difference to the visual appeal of your property.
- Create an enticing entrance
What does your front door say about your home? Is the paint peeling off the door? Is the porch cluttered with leaf debris?
Your front entrance is your chance to create the right first impression so do your best to make it inviting. This might include painting the front door, replacing the doormat and hardware, cleaning the porch and removing clutter such as excess pot plants.
- Stage your space
While many of us don’t have the budget to engage an interior design expert, there are some subtle changes you can make yourself to create a welcoming environment.
Think about rearranging furniture and decorative items to enhance your living space. There are plenty of YouTube videos chock-full of tips on the subject.
Another tip is to consider storing items that aren’t in the best condition. Then rent a few statement pieces and artwork for the short-term. These finer touches can really impress buyers during your sales campaign, and net you a tidy profit that will easily cover the rental fees.
- Understand your real price
Spend some time looking at recent sales in your area so you can be realistic about your potential property price. Being in the know about the wider current market helps too. This information is really useful when deciding how much you should spend on pre-sale touch ups and presentation.
We hope these nine spring sales tips will help you with your upcoming property sale. If you need further assistance when it comes to your finances for your new home, just let us know. We’d love to help.