How To Get Ready For The Spring Selling Season

1. Find A Realtor: One of the most important ways to facilitate selling your house and getting ready for the spring selling season is to enlist the help of a licensed realtor with a proven record.  A realtor can give you an idea of what houses are selling for in your area and what you can do to effectively compete.  Realtors can also go room by room in your home to point out what improvements need to be made to ensure a quick sale.  A reputable realtor can also point out which improvements will provide a higher return on investment therefore adding to your bottom line.
2. Utilize A Planning Calendar: With a list of improvements from a realtor on how to get the house ready for the spring selling season, now is the time to put that list into action.  Print out a basic blank online calendar and start filling in daily activities from the realtor’s list.  This may include action items like calling a painter for an estimate or hiring a landscaping company to improve the curb appeal.  Other action items that may be helpful to list on the calendar include repair work and decluttering the home.
3. Tackle Basic Repairs First: Before a seller starts thinking about the emotional aspect of showing a well-dressed home, basic repairs should be taken care of.  These may include small fixes such as replacing a lightbulb to bigger fixes affecting roofing, HVAC systems, or plumbing.  While not all of these repairs will be easily seen by buyers, they will put them at ease when the home inspector’s report comes out.
4. Declutter: One of the most often overlooked steps in getting a house ready for the spring selling season is decluttering.  Do not be offended if a realtor recommends the house be decluttered.  They are not saying that the house is overrun with junk but are rather suggesting that buyers prefer to see wide open spaces so they can easily envision their own belongings in the home.  This process typically includes eliminating as many personal items as possible, such as photographs.  Decluttering closets are also a must because it makes the closet appear to have much more space available, even with clothes and shoes stored there.  The bonus to decluttering before the house goes on the market is that some of your personal things will already be safely packed away and put in a storage facility, which will make moving a little easier when the time comes.

Curb appeal is usually the first thing a potential buyer notices when visiting a house.  The emotional attachment that forms between the home and buyer is absolutely key for a house sale to occur.  When it comes to creating a welcoming atmosphere, here are some easier tasks to handle:

• • Wash the windows. When showing a home, the windows become an unconscious focus as the sunlight streams through.  Make sure any debris around the window panes is removed and that the windows are properly cleaned.
  • Refresh the yard. Curb appeal makes a great first impression, so this is an ideal place to invest some time and a little money.  Refreshing the yard typically includes keeping it neatly mowed and edged and clear of any leaves, sticks, or debris.  Don’t forget the front beds and make a point to pluck any dead plants or weeds from the landscape and trim back any dead tree branches.  Consider adding some brightly colored potted seasonal flowers on either side of a new welcome mat by the front door.

Once the exterior of the home is in good shape, it is time to turn inward.  Some interior improvements can be as easy as keeping things dusted, decluttered and vacuumed, while others may require a little bit of money.

• Paint the inside of the house. Painting the inside of the house can make a world of difference.  Choose a neutral color that will work with almost any decorating style, such as a soft beige or gray tone.  A new coat of paint will cover most wall imperfections and give the buyer the feeling that they are starting fresh.
• Wash the windows. Yes, this counts for the inside too.  Potential buyers will be looking to see how the light looks when it filters in the house.  The last thing they will want to see is a sticky handprint on the window pane.
• Clean window décor. Windows do allow more sunlight in and all that sunlight can expose dust and dirt if the drapes and blinds are not properly cleaned.
• Make the floors shine. Applying a little bit of polish to hardwood floors will really make them shine in the sunlight.  Tile floors can look brand new if the grout is whitened or refreshed.
• Focus on the kitchen and bathrooms. The most often used rooms in a house tend to be the kitchen and bathrooms, so any small upgrades or improvements you can make to these rooms will likely please buyers.
• Stage the house. Help the house to come alive with one or two well placed vases of fresh flowers.  Especially when getting the house ready for the spring selling season, consider using pastel colored pillows, throws, and bath towels to add a light feel to the space.  Be cognizant of any odors in the home.  If you cooked fish the night before and the smell is still lingering in the air, consider using an odor absorbing room spray or lighting a candle.  It is crucial to use a very light and pleasant scent that does not overwhelm potential buyers.
• Clean house. Once everything is in place, consider hiring a professional cleaning crew to come in and deep clean to make sure the house is in top form for potential buyers.