4 Keys To Getting Your Home Ready To Sell This Spring

With Spring around the corner, many homeowners are preparing to sell their home. If you've found yourself on this post, you are likely wondering what you can to do get top dollar for your property. I am here to share a few key notes on getting your home ready to hit the market. These tips are not requirements to sell, however, a few small changes can sometimes be the change you need in order to take your home into the next price bracket.

Let's take a look at 4 keys to getting your home ready to sell this Spring.

1. Maintenance

Do a good sweep of your home. Most likely, there are a few things that have been cast aside while you've been busy with your life. That's okay. We are all busy and we all do it. However, Buyers come in ready to examine your home. If you are looking to market your home as "turn key," then let's be sure we've covered the bases.

Exterior

Curb appeal matters. When a buyer pulls into your driveway, their first impression sets the tone for the viewing. Here are a few tips to consider for the exterior when preparing your home for the market.

• Pressure Washing

• Landscape

• Clean Gutters

- Pressure washing will give your exterior the refresh it needs to give a great first impression. Not only will your property appear in better condition, it will be clean - rid of any dirt, debris, and bugs that have lingered on the exterior of your home. In East Tennessee, we have rainy winters. Pressure Washing will remove any staining on your driveway, sidewalk, or porch that may have taken place from rain fallout off your home.

- Check the gutters prior to listing the home. Especially if you are noticing staining around the exterior of the house. When a buyer views the home, they won't necessarily note how clean the gutters are. However, they will note evidence of clogged gutters if they see it. This is a maintenance tip that will make a difference in the impression of your home.

- Lastly, take a look at the landscaping. I'm not saying you need to spend thousands on brand new landscaping. I am saying take an honest look at the condition of it and consider making improvements.

- If it's needed, re-mulching / rock will make a huge difference in curb appeal.

- Remove weeds.

- Trim the hedges and prune the bushes.

- Give the grass the best cut of its life.

- It's spring. Incorporate some flowers around the porch for decoration.

Interior

Owning a home takes work. Let's go through a check list of interior maintenance you may need to touch on prior to listing your home.

• Repair / Replacements.

• Patch holes and scuffs on the walls.

• Replace the air filter and burnt light bulbs.

• Consider replacing old appliances.

- Repairs and Replacements can make a big difference in the sale of your home. Buyers will make a mental note of everything they feel needs attention before purchasing. We don't want their maintenance list to be so long, on top of the personal changes they will want to make, that they feel overwhelmed. This will deter buyers.

- Start small - Little things like replacing burnt light bulbs and air filters, as well as patching any holes or damages in the walls / trim, help enunciate the impression you take care of your home.

- Is there anything not working properly or broken? I'm talking light switches that don't trip, fireplace isn't starting, appliances, broken tiles, etc. Consider calling your favorite handyman to come check your home out.

- On the subject of appliances: If the appliances are old and it's within the budget, consider purchasing a stainless steel appliance package prior to listing your home.

- They may work, but hear me out - Most buyers look at kitchen appliances as an immediate expense, and not all buyers want to purchase new appliances first thing or have the ability to do so after buying a home.

- Disclaimer: This is not a necessary step nor does it apply to every household. As an agent, I am always looking for ways to get a seller top dollar for their home. If a few improvements have the capability to take a home into the next price bracket, I will share my thoughts and suggestions.

2. Cosmetics

If you are looking to maximize the value of your home, we need to take a look at the cosmetics. Your home will receive the most traction when it first hits the market. The goal is to create desire around your home. Some buyers are looking for a turn key, easy transfer while others are looking to get their hands dirty. Regardless, most people are going to put their personal touches on the home they buy. By making a few cosmetic improvements, you can take your home to the next level.

Paint

Paint is probably the most common tool homeowners use to personalize their home. Whether it's an accent wall or letting your kids choose their bedroom color, paint has the ability to completely change a space. Let's look at a few reasons why painting your home prior to selling might be a good idea.

• Damaged walls.

• Dated tones, especially dark tones.

• Statement colors.

If your home has any of the listed reasons above, you may want to consider painting your home prior to listing. Especially if you have dark tones, bold colors, or damaged walls.

Buyers love a blank canvas to personalize. It is going to be harder for a buyer to envision living in a space with statement colors in the way. Color can take away from a space, at least for others.

My suggestion for those with dark or bold colored walls, give your home a refresh with a neutral wall color. Your home will show better because of it and you are more likely to get top dollar for your home.

Flooring

For homeowners with carpet: if the carpet is old, worn, damaged, or stained, I would contemplate updating the carpet before you sell.

As with appliances, buyers see old carpet as an immediate expense, and with LVP being installed in homes left and right, many buyers will look elsewhere if they have to come in and spend thousands on new flooring when they can likely find another home with updated floors.

- This is an investment you will immediately get back when you close on your home.

For Hardwoods: Have the hardwoods polished. That shine will be unmatched to buyers when they step into your home.

Hardware

Check on the hardware - if any knobs or handles have come loose, tighten them. If they are broken, look into a replacement.

If a door knob is broken and can be replaced with a match, consider doing so. Again, little touches like this let a buyer know the home has been cared for and loved. This will take your home to the top of the buyer's list.

3. Clean / Organize

A clean home is an inviting home. If you want your home to show well and sell fast, it needs to be clean. Your home is lived in so nobody is expecting perfection, but having a clean and organized home will have a big impact on the quality of showings. For tips on Spring cleaning / organizing, check out my blog posts on decluttering the home and getting organized. Here's a checklist per room when doing a walk through of your home.

4. Staging

This is the fun part. A little bit of staging will go a long way with showings. It's a nice touch that give buyers a warming "homey" feeling. With Spring upon us, here are a few ways to incorporate the liveliness of Spring into your home.

Greenery

• Fresh flowers and plants are sure to brighten any space. Who doesn't love a bouquet of flowers on the table? I know I do.

Replace Linens

• Liven your home with color. Replace throws and pillow covers with Spring tones. Don't forget to extend into the bedrooms.

• Replace the hand towels in the kitchen and bathrooms with Spring decorated designs.

• When is the last time the shower curtain was replaced? It may be time for a replacement.

Decor

• Replace canvas with quotes for artwork.

• Leave a bowl of fruit on a table or countertop.

• Replace vases and other decor with vibrant Spring pieces.

• Update the dining table setting.

• Swap out the books sitting on surfaces with more season appropriate books.

• Depersonalize to a degree - When buyers walk into a home, they are going to envision themselves living there, which can be difficult to do if they see photos and personal touches to the Seller.

Scent

• Replace candles, oils, and soaps with bright scents for Spring.

• A nice, refreshing scent is the perfect way to top off your home for showings.

• Spring Potpourri: 1 lemon, 2 cinnamon sticks, a few sprigs of thyme or eucalyptus leaves, and a few sprigs of mint.

I hope you find this post helpful. If you are thinking about selling, give me a call. I would love to work with you. With Spring comes a new surge of inventory. Let's make your home stand out from the crowd.

xx Lauren