Tips for Selling your House in Spring

Spring is in the air

We already know that Spring is one of the best times to sell your home. Winter has passed, and the colder weather is making way for longer, brighter and warmer days. The old adage is true: “Spring is in the air” and it brings about a new bloom of activity for everyone.

Now that you’ve decided to sell your home, it’s time to prep your home to a magazine-worthy level!

How do you get there? What should your priorities be? Should you refresh or go as far as remodeling or refurbishing? We have the answers to your questions with these tips for selling your house in Spring:

No room for dust bunnies

A clean home inside and out is a given – so put your back into it and apply some elbow grease! There is nothing more off-putting to potential buyers than being able to write their name in the dust. Buyers will question if an uncared-for home could be hiding other potential issues – and you never want a buyer to have a negative impression or perception of your home based solely on poor presentation. Even though you’re not always selling furnishings and accessories, consider the overall look, feel and aroma of your home.

Here’s your cleaning to-do list:

• Clean upholstered furniture: Take cushions and pillows outside and beat them to remove dust and dirt. If needed, have pieces professionally cleaned.
• Shine the windows: Deep clean all windows and polish the hardware.
• Wax wood furniture: Dusting is not enough to care for your wood furniture. Use a paste wax to restore the natural beauty of your wood.
• Polish the wood floors: Wash or wax your wood floors to protect them as well as remove dirt and stains.
• Brighten the tile: Grout is prone to darken and fade in color, so it’s worth splurging on professional grout cleaner to brighten tile floors, back splashes and shower walls.
• Clean the carpets: It’s simple enough to rent a carpet-cleaning machine or bring in the professionals. Coffee, tea, wine, ground-in dirt and all other unknown stains should be shampooed away.

Make the mental move

Letting go can be difficult, especially if you’ve lived in your home for many years. It’s personal, but it’s time to make the emotional break. You have to level with yourself, making the mental decision to let go of your emotions and focus on the fact that soon this house will no longer be yours.

De-cluttering and de-personalizing not only helps with the emotions, but also makes the spaces more appealing to potential buyers andultimately, preps the house for the next home owners.

We always suggest starting with the attic and then the garage. Determine what you don’t need to take to the new house and consider having a garage sale or donating the items. As you purge through your belongings, make room for packing boxes to be neatly stored while you’re selling your home.

As a welcome bonus, the organization and this clear out will actually make for a smoother move once you do sell.

Spruce up the curb appeal

Now that you have the inside spic and span, focus your attention on the exterior. Put yourself in the shoes of a potential buyer seeing your house for the first time. What impresses them? What makes them remember it? What can you do to make it stand out from the other houses they’re viewing? 

Remember, you only get one chance at a first impression. Curb appeal can make or break a showing. Register for our Seller’s Guides to learn more about making that first impression count.

The big ticket items

The truth is, not all changes will bring the best return on investment (ROI). Before you plan a big, or small, improvement project, consider what might be the most appealing to buyers. The home improvements that generally yield the best bang for the buck include:

• Yard clean-up and landscaping

• Front door replacement

• New siding, exterior repairs and/or fresh paint

• Kitchen and/or bath upgrades, including new counter tops, fixtures and cabinetry

• Deck and patio additions, such as outdoor kitchens and/or BBQs

• Additional living space, especially bonus rooms and extra bathrooms

First and foremost, buyers can sense when a home has good bones. The single most important factor is to ensure there is no deferred maintenance. From there, you can decide which updates – if any – you want to make to give your home a fresh appeal.

Best tip

If you need a helping hand as you prepare to sell your home, contact HOMM Real Estate Services. We start with understanding your needs and expectations. Then we look at your home and its selling points…positive and painful! We can help with determining the best way to prepare your home for selling in the Spring season. We are here Helping Others Make Moves.

HOMM Real Estate Services, located in the Brandon, Florida area of Tampa-Bay focused to Hillsborough, Pasco, and Polk Counties. As a full-service general real estate company, we specialize in general real estate, home buyers, home sellers, new home construction, rentals, tenants and landlords, and property management.

Learn more about Marie Negron, her team and HOMM Real Estate Services. Call 813-684-5954 or email info.hommsales@gmail.com to get started.