Prepping your home for a spring sale

Are you getting ready to list your home for a spring sale? Springtime is certainly a busy season for real estate, so you’re likely to attract interest and offers from buyers. However, you still have work to do to prepare your home! Between completing renovations and finding the right professionals to work with, there’s no shortage of tasks for you to tackle. Here are some of the top ways you can prep your home for a spring sale.

Update high-traffic areas

You may not have completed renovations in your home in a long time, or ever for that matter. If you’re considering selling, one of the best things you can do is complete some upgrades in key areas. You might be wondering what the point is of spending money to renovate when you just plan to sell, and won’t benefit personally from the updates. However, smart renovation choices can earn you a high return on your investment (ROI), and help your home become more valuable on the market. 

The kitchen and bathrooms are typically the most important parts of a home to focus on. They are common areas that everyone sees and uses, so they should be fresh and modern. You don’t need to opt for the most expensive marble countertops and luxury Jacuzzis, but minor upgrades can make a big difference. You can add new kitchen cabinets, backsplash, and engineered stone countertops in the kitchen, and a dual vanity and upgraded shower in the bathroom. It’s important to balance price and quality. You should spend just enough to increase your home’s value, without emptying your pockets.

Hire an agent

Just like you shouldn’t try to buy a home without an agent, it’s important to secure a real estate agent when selling too. Although sellers generally have the upper hand in this market, don’t let that fool you into believing you don’t need a professional on your side. Agents help you find the right asking price for your home, and they assist you when the offers start coming in. There’s also a lot of paperwork that comes with selling a home, which agents can help take off your hands. Many buyers’ agents are automatically wary of “for sale by owner” properties, because it shows there’s no professional on the other side to work with. This means many buyers might not even see your home if you try to go through the process alone. Finding a reputable agent is a huge part of preparing your home for a spring sale.

Try to depersonalize

It can be emotional to sell your home, but it’s important to try to not let that interfere with the business of showing the property to buyers. Buyers want to feel like they’re viewing their potential next home, not just touring another person’s house. Try to focus on that idea and take the time to depersonalize your house. Store away family portraits, children’s art projects, and super sentimental decorations to make room for a neutral environment. Let buyers imagine themselves and their accessories in the home, without the distractions of your personal items.

Remember the expenses

The saying “you need to spend money to make money” partly applies when preparing your home for a spring sale. In this case, you should spend some money to earn more money on the sale. This means although you will make money, it will also cost you to make the most out of the experience. You already know you may need to pay for home repairs or renovations. Plus, you’re likely aware your agent will take a small percentage of money from your home sale as their commission, and they will discuss specifics with you. If you choose to professionally stage your home for viewings, this can cost thousands of dollars as well, depending on the length of time and how many new items the stagers need to bring into the home. All this work will increase your home’s value, but it will cost you money upfront.

Closing day reminders

Approaching closing day, it’s important to keep a few details in mind. You will be in contact with your lawyer, making sure they have everything they need from you to take care of things like the title transfer. You should also take a quick reading of your utility meters so you can see how much you’ll owe for the month before the new owners take over. Plus, don’t forget to bring any keys for the property to hand over to the buyers. Finally, have all your ID and contracts available to look at if necessary. Be organized and prepared on closing day for the most seamless experience!

Preparing your home for a spring sale means launching yourself into the market at a very busy time of year. Odds are, you will secure a good sale on your home, but you can make things easier for yourself too by using a professional and updating your home. If you plan to sell and buy a new home, you can contact a mortgage broker as well! We can help you explore your options and how to proceed as a buyer in this market.

If you have questions about your mortgage or buying a home, get in touch with us at Clinton Wilkins Mortgage Team! You can call us at (902) 482-2770 or contact us here.