Selling your home in the Spring is a common trend that doesn’t seem to change no matter the real estate climate. There are a number of reasons why listing in Spring is beneficial. Simply put, homes show really well in the Spring. It’s such a beautiful time of year, grass is green and the flowers are all blooming. It’s such a positive fresh time of year, especially after these long Canadian winters. The warmth of the sun shining through windows tends to warm things up and put buyers in high spirits. Moving also tends to be more appealing in summer; listing in the Spring, closing in the summer. Snow and cold weather makes moving very difficult and unappealing. Spring and summer can make for a much more pleasant moving experience. If you’re moving a family, closing dates in the summer mean your kids can complete their school year and don’t have to change schools mid-year and have a fresh start come September after getting settled in their new surroundings. Many people also receive their tax refunds in the Spring, which help towards higher offers and down-payments and more motivated buyers.
Selling any time of the year involves preparation. Different areas may need more attention than others, depending on the time of year. In the Spring, the exterior of your home should receive a lot more attention to detail than it would in the winter. Gardens and lawn maintenance aren’t as crucial when the ground is covered in a blanket of snow.
First impressions always make a huge impact, and curb appeal is the first thing a potential buyer sees in person. The property should look clean, well-kept and maintained. If the first thing a buyer sees is a messy yard, unkept gardens, lawns and driveways they will immediately begin making a list of “improvements” that need to be done. The more things that need to be done, the less and less the home becomes desirable.
The front and back of your home should look clean, fresh and inviting.
- Liven up your gardens; fresh soil, plants and mulch make a huge difference. Clean up the edging around your garden beds, plant some pops of colour to brighten up the exterior.
- Fresh cut grass makes a huge difference. If you know you’re listing in Spring, make sure you begin your lawn maintenance first thaw with fertilizer and grass feed.
- Clean up your front entrance area. A fresh coat of paint and new hardware on the front door can make a world of a difference. It’s a simple and easy way to make your home pop. Power-wash your front steps/porch area, remove any tattered old door mats and add fresh planters to bring dimension and life.
- Clean up landscaping. Winter can be very hard on bushes and trees, so it’s important to care for them come Spring. Make sure any broken tree limbs or low hanging branches are properly removed. Trim bushes and remove any brown/damaged sections. Not only is this care beneficial to the health of the trees, it also makes your home more appealing to buyers. The less maintenance and work they have to do, the more enticed they will be to buy!
- Clean exterior windows and siding/brick. Get all the winter grim off. This applies to garage doors, fencing and gates as well. You want these parts of your home to look as new as they can.
- Backyards need just as much attention to detail. Have your agent, or a staging professional help you arrange outdoor furniture on your patio/deck areas. Liven up gardens, pool areas etc. For photo day, make sure hot tub lids and pools are open, clean and inviting. Create an oasis in your yard, a space that people will want to unwind every day.
- Both front and back yards should be cleared of any toys or debris. Put away all gardening tools or other items you have stored outside. Declutter as best as you can, and clean up any ‘presents’ your pets have left behind.
Now that the exterior of your home is the highlight of the neighbourhood, it’s time to turn your attention inside.
- Spring Cleaning!! Clean your house, top to bottom. Windows, baseboards, crown molding and doors should all be scrubbed clean. Deep clean any carpeted areas and scrub tile grout. Remove cobwebs, scrub sliding door tracks, mirrors, ceiling fans, light fixtures … everything!
- Spend the time to make repairs and minor improvements. It’s not alway necessary to do large renovations to sell. Buyers often like to make their own improvements and renovations to suit their taste. Small improvements like touch up paint can go a long way when selling your home. High touch areas like kitchen cabinets, doors, handrails and baseboards all get beat up over time. Fresh paint can bring life back to these dull areas and make your home look brand new again. Make improvements to the focal point areas of the home, like kitchens and bathrooms. Replace old light fixtures, hardware on cabinets, switch plates and redo caulk and grout in bathrooms.
- Bring more light into your home. Pay close attention to areas that bring natural light into your home, and heighten those areas. Change out dim/dull and dirty light bulbs, and make sure you’re using the same coloured lights in the same areas. IE. Daylight vs. Bright light colours.
- Eliminate odours. Funky smells will turn away prospective buyers right away. Deep/steam cleaning carpets will help with this, and an overall deep clean of the home will make a difference. Avoid using heavily scented cleaners and fragrance sprays.
- Declutter and stage. When people walk into your home,they want to envision themselves living there. Try to depersonalize as much as possible. Office spaces and counters should be tidied and organized. Try to tuck away paperwork and desktop items. Clean off countertops in kitchens and bathrooms. Organize kids play rooms, and use baskets/bins and closets to hide away toys, blankets and other items that tend to clutter spaces. The benefits of using professional stagers are endless, so it’s worth looking in to. Some realtors offer this service complimentary, so ask those questions when looking for the right agent.
- Get yourself organized. Find all your homeowner paperwork. This helps speed the process of sale and can help address any questions quickly. You’ll want to find any warranties, instruction manuals, rental agreements for equipment in your home etc. Permits and receipts are also important if you’ve done renovations, exterior or interior. Utility and tax amounts are needed when preparing your home to list, so make sure you have those numbers handy. Any of these details can be discussed with your realtor so you can be fully prepared and organized.
Listing your home to sell can be one of the most stressful experiences to navigate through. The importance of hiring a professional realtor can make a huge difference. When looking for an agent, make sure to ask questions and determine what kind of support they can offer. Some agents offer staging services, client care assistance and checklists to keep you organized and help get the most value for your home.