Every seller wants to take advantage of the peak housing market demand in spring, when people prefer checking out properties while enjoying the sunshine. Spring is considered an ideal season to sell a home when blooming flowers bring forth more potential buyers.
Springtime offers sellers the best opportunity to sell houses faster, for a higher price than other seasons. It’s the ideal time if you’re juggling buying and selling houses at the same time. Open houses are at most crowded starting March to June, so it’s important to get your house ready for the spring sale beforehand by following the expert tips below.
Do Exterior Repairs Or Upgrades
Prepare your house for sale by doing exterior repairs and renovations. Buyers usually prefer to buy houses needing fewer repairs. While upgrades are optional, they can boost your home’s value. On the other hand, repairs help maintain the current value of your property.
If you’re too busy to do repairs, you can sell your home as it is this spring. You can work with one of the most trusted real estate solutions and investment firms, such as Ocean City Development, for a hassle-free home sale.
So, what are the recommended repairs and upgrades to get your home ready for springtime sales? Here are some recommendations to improve your home’s curb appeal:
- Garage Door Repair: Replace the garage door if the coil spring is damaged. Your garage door should meet all safety criteria and local codes.
- Exterior Doors: Make sure that the door handles are in good condition, with intact weatherstripping. If you have sliding glass doors, make sure that they’re aligned on tracks.
- Roof Repair: Repair damaged or missing shingles, ridge caps, or tiles because these components protect the house from water damage.
- Eaves: Replace some board for the eaves if they appear moldy or rotten.
- Drainage: Fix drainage problems by hiring a contractor to re-grade your yard or apply concrete, sloping drainage away from the foundation.
- Foundation: Horizontal and vertical cracks on walls and sagging floors could indicate foundation problems. You can seek a contractor’s expert advice on how to resolve these issues.
- Lastly, remember to upgrade your home siding. If you want vinyl siding, consider working with a professional who can do the job right for an improved appearance and value. Preparing your home for sale this spring involves a lot of work, but starting with exterior repairs and renovations is an excellent strategy to impress potential buyers.
Do Interior Repairs Or Upgrades
Check your home’s interior to make sure it’s also in generally good condition, like your exterior, to avoid a major customer turn-off. Try these tips when repairing or upgrading your home’s interior surfaces:
- Walls And Ceilings: Repaint the walls if there are water damage and discoloration. Consider repairing minor dings, dents, and nail holes.
- Flooring: Replace old and torn carpeting. If the carpet looks good, have it steam-cleaned. Refinish dented or scratched hardwood, and replace all cracked or chipped floor tiles.
- HVAC System: Hire an HVAC professional to check if your HVAC system has leaks, and ensure it’s working properly.
General Cleaning
Deep clean your home before welcoming potential buyers. Even if you have an old house, keeping it clean will surely make a difference. Eliminating foul smells, clutter, and unpleasant items will make your home more inviting and welcoming.
Prepare all cleaning tools you need, including a vacuum cleaner, broom, microfiber cloth, and eco-friendly cleaning agents. If you don’t have time to perform general cleaning, you can hire professional residential cleaners to tackle the task.
Check these general cleaning tips to prepare your home for sale this spring:
- Floors: Mop and vacuum all floors to remove stains, dirt, and debris. Remove all clutter, like toys, kitty litter boxes, and gadget cables.
- Appliances: Clean and wipe appliances to look spotless. Some buyers will open your built-in refrigerator if it comes with the purchase deal.
- Bathroom And Kitchen: You want to ensure these areas are smelling good and looking clean and tidy. Repair all damaged kitchen cupboards and custom-built pantry. Replace cracked bathroom and kitchen tiles.
- Bedroom: Clean your closet, side tables, and make the bedding. Change your old pillowcases and blanket with new ones, staging your bedroom as a very comfortable place to rest and relax.
Stage Your Home
Staging your home is essential for a successful sale; for one, it increases the offer price by 1% to 5%. You want your home to be at its best when potential buyers come and visit. Also, it’s a great way to prepare your house for a professional photoshoot for your listing.
Take a look at the following expert tips when staging your home:
- Know The Best Room In Your Home For Staging: The common rooms recommended for staging include the living room, kitchen, master bedroom, and dining room. Make sure these areas appeal to potential buyers.
- Make Everything Look New: The ultimate goal of staging is to make everything look new. You don’t have to invest in new appliances; just make sure that they’re clean. Mirrors, glass, and tiles should be sparkling.
- Depersonalize: Allow your potential buyers to picture themselves staying in your home by removing everything that makes your house your own, such as family picture frames.
Hire Contractors
Depending on the repair you want to perform, choose trusted plumbing, roofing, electrical, cleaning, and HVAC contractors. Here are some tips when hiring contractors:
- Check Review Sites: Angie’s List and other review sites provide reviews of qualified contractors from verified users. You can also check the performance of a contractor with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) by looking up the company’s performance through their website.
- Check Track Record: Hire local contractors with good track records. Get referrals and references, and call contacts to verify a contractor’s claim of providing excellent services.
- Interview: Don’t miss this important step when hiring a contractor. Ask relevant questions to gauge their experience and expertise.
Conclusion
Prepare to sell your house this spring by doing exterior and interior repairs and upgrades. Repairing cracks, holes, and stains, and replacing old and worn out units, systems, and fixtures could help maintain or increase your property’s value. Put yourself in the buyer’s shoes and apply the tips shared above. You can also sell your home quicker this season by seeking the help of a real estate investment firm.