Welcome to Spring! As much as Coloradans love our Rocky Mountains covered in snow, Spring is always a welcome reprieve from the bitter winter. When the warm sun finally comes out to play, so too do the buyers and sellers (whom, it seems, have been hibernating all winter).
It’s time for you to come out of hibernation and “Spring” into action – Give your home the best chance to be chosen by a buyer this Spring with Your Castle’s top five home staging tips.
Make the front inviting.
The first thing a potential buyer notices when they arrive to your home is the exterior. Ensure your yard is as manicured as possible by shoveling and de-icing your walkways. If you live in an area that does not have snow on the ground, take other precautions to make sure that your lawn is well-manicured. Mow your lawn, trim your bushes and trees, plant fresh flowers either in front of the house or in pots next to the front door, and freshen your mulch.
If you have time, a fresh coat of paint on the house will go a long way. A less ambitious endeavor that will also make a positive first impression is re-painting the front door. There tends to be natural wear-and-tear to house numbers during the winter – replace faded house numbers so passersby can see without straining their eyes.
Get your house inspected.
According to the homebuying process, a home is required to go under inspection before it is sold. It would benefit you to get your house inspected before the buyer does – buyers can be skittish, and any small damages that are found can lead them to wonder what larger damages face them upon purchase. Ease their mind and yours by checking for small, easily-repairable damages ahead of time.
Make minor interior repairs.
Remember: repairs are not the same as renovations. Repairs are small, simple fixes you can typically do without a professional that simplify your ease of living, and exponentially enhance the experience of a buyer on a walk-through. Here are just a few ideas for repairs to look for in your home:
- Replace cracked floor or counter tiles
- Patch any holes in the walls
- Fix leaky faucets
- Align doors that don’t close properly
- Align kitchen drawers that jam
- Replace burned-out lightbulbs
As a general rule of thumb, the key is to focus improvements on areas that people’s eyes are drawn to when they walk through a home. This is where your time and money will be most effectively spent. Make sure to check the exterior for all of the above, as well.
Create space for Spring.
Although most Westerners love and respect the Winter, by the time Spring rolls around, we don’t want a single reminder of our traumatic snow-ins. Replace winter home decor (like flannel blankets or seasonal pillows) with lighter, brightly colored Spring accessories.
Make de-cluttering your home part of your new Spring cleaning routine. Our biggest tip is to remove your bulky winter clothes from closets and other storage areas. This will free up much needed space in your closets, and make your closets appear much larger (a huge selling point!).
As we recommended in our Fall and Winter staging pieces, embrace what draws people to the irresistible call of Spring! Place subtle reminders of the new season around your home to make it seem more inviting. The Spruce suggests you gather some fresh flowers, blooming branches, or twigs and scatter them throughout your home.
As always, personal items such as pictures and religious articles should be hidden or VERY selectively chosen. Potential buyers want to be able to picture themselves calling your house a home. So, while it may be difficult, sweep through your home and remove the decorative items that make the house intimately yours.
Be an early bird.
As we said before, Spring is the the time of year when buyer and seller activity picks up very quickly! Get your home on the market soon before it becomes crowded with competition.
Being an “early bird” also means using daylight savings to your advantage. Illuminate (literally) what makes your home so amazing by opening curtains and windows to let in that bright Spring sunshine. This is a small touch that invokes warmth and auspicious feelings on life in a cheery, new home!
Have you ever viewed or listed a home during the Spring? What was your experience? Tell us your stories in the comments below!
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