Nothing lures property buyers into the market like the sunshine.
Most homeowners know the market sparks up once Winter is over and they’re keen to catch the wave of positive sentiment.
The warm sunshine will highlight the positives of your home but can expose issues if you’re not fully prepared. Here’s our guide to getting your home spring cleaned for sale.
Top tips for a summer sale
- Get professional help. Warm weather sales are not guaranteed to deliver the best price because, sometimes, supply can outstrip demand. As your agent, we’d be happy to guide you through the process and advise you on how to prepare your property to meet market expectations.
- Pretend to be a buyer and walk through the property, noting the problems that need to be fixed. Once identified, develop a plan to have them fixed to maximise your negotiation position.
- Finish any repairs and enhance assets for curbside appeal. Create a stunning entrance or painting your front door. A favourite target is the timber decking, which usually needs a re-stain in even the best-loved homes. In the backyard, consider new outdoor furniture.
- Let the garden bloom in the sunshine – maximise this facet of your home. Rake up leaves and water the garden regularly in the run-up to inspections. Weed and mulch garden beds and consider planting ‘pots of colour’ for instant brightness. Make sure the lawn is regularly mown – long grass really does make a garden appear smaller.
- Use furnishings and styling that embrace the warmer vibe and de-personalise your home so buyers focus on the property. Store or move out any overly large furniture. A throw rug of bright colours can do wonders and consider adding feature-rich throw rugs or cushions in fashionable colours to give pops of brightness.
- Let the sunshine flood into the house. Clean windows and polish flat areas as well as mirrors, chrome fittings and glassware. These will gleam in the sunlight and leave a positive impression, particularly in the kitchen and bathrooms. Double-down on tap fittings and sinks.
- Move furniture away from windows and pull back the curtains and blinds to maximise the natural light.
- De-clutter and clean. If your house has been closed up during Winter, let the air flow through it. Remove dust and dirt from ceiling fan blades and wipe down window ledges and skirting board edges. Hide or store anything non-essential that will make your home feel smaller. Consider getting carpets steam-cleaned to add to that fresh feel of sun, fresh air and renewal.