Preparing Your Home for the Spring Market

It may seem like we are dreaming about Spring already, but in Real Estate the Spring Market can start as early as January.  Once the holidays are over, we start to see an increase in both buyers and sellers.  Last year the number of showings increased 35% December to January and continued to rise on average 7% each month. During that same period, listings increased at a rate of approximately 16% monthly peaking in May.

If you are thinking about selling your home this year, February is not too early to start planning.  Follow this 10 step guide to help get your home ready for the Spring market:

1. Always consult a Realtor – A great real estate agent will walk through your home and provide you with a detailed list of repairs and updates to get the most money for your home.
2. Don’t over improve – We see a lot of clients who think they need to update their kitchen or bathrooms right before they sell. In many cases you might not get your money back on these renovations.  Instead of spending a lot of money on renovations consider low cost updates.
3. Paint – A fresh coat of paint inside and outside is the best investment you can make when getting your home ready to sell. Choosing neutral colors is ideal as it can brighten the home and showcase the natural light.
4. Declutter – Remove almost everything off the counter tops, start packing clothing and emptying out closets. If you have a lot of art or personal photos consider packing those up as well.
5. Clean – It’s amazing how dirty the baseboards, tops of refrigerators and basements can get. We always recommend hiring a professional cleaner for a true deep clean of the whole house, including refrigerators and cabinets.
6. Windows – Don’t forget about your windows, you’ll be amazed how bright your house can be with clean windows.
7. Power washing – If you have a deck or siding that looks dirty consider power washing to brighten them.
8. Mulch – Fresh mulch really makes your flower beds pop, especially if you are listing before your plants start to bloom.
9. Curb Appeal – Make sure your flower beds and lawn are free of leaves and weeds. A fresh mow, edging, flowerpots and annuals go a long way with adding curb appeal to your home.
10. Staging – It’s important that each room in your home tells a story and staging is the best way to do that.

This guide will help prepare your home to draw in as many buyers as possible and give them the vision of turning your home into their dream home.  If you’d like to learn more about selling your home contact Team de la Vega at 513-919-3844 or www.teamdlv.com.