Preparing to Sell Your Home This Spring? Here's What You Should Be Doing Now.

Preparing to sell your home can be an exciting time for homeowners! While leaving a home you love can sometimes be hard, it signifies the start of a new journey. That being said, there are a lot of items to consider when selling your home!

If you’re ready to sell this spring, here’s everything you should be working on now (if you’re not already)!

Fresh Paint

No matter how diligent you are about keeping your home neat and tidy, you'd be smart to consider which areas could use a fresh coat of paint! You want to make the best impression on potential homebuyers, and it's amazing how fresh paint can improve the appearance of your home.

That being said, be sure to stick with neutral colors when repainting rooms. You don't have to go full-blown white, but steer clear of any bold and crazy color choices!

Landscaping

The springtime is a great time to show your home, and it's even better when your landscaping looks top tier. If you're planning on adding anything to your home's landscape, you should start a checklist and budgeting now. If not, be sure to have the tools you need to clean up your yard.

Weed the garden. Shape up the overgrown bushes and plants. The lawn may not be in perfect shape at the start of spring, but keep it as well-maintained as possible. And, just like fresh paint... fresh mulch in the mulch beds make all the difference! 

Repairs

Don't procrastinate on this step! Inspect every corner of your home for all cosmetic and functional repairs that may be needed. If you need to, make a room-by-room checklist and set a schedule for each area. 

You can probably fix many of these repairs easily on your own, but there will likely be a few in which you'll need to hire help. Right now, contractors are backed up... for weeks and months. Get the biggest repairs out of the way early on and fill in the gaps with the smaller stuff.

Your home doesn't need to be absolutely perfect, but anything that could affect the sale of your home should be fixed before listing.

Front Door

The front door is the first thing someone sees before they step foot in your home. Make sure the porch is powerwashed or swept, and maybe consider adding some simple home decor to spice it up.

At the very least, your front door should be free of any cosmetic (or functional!) damage. And it's never a bad idea to reconsider the paint color! Choose a color that is going to make future homebuyers want to live there. In this case, you can opt for something bolder than you would inside the home. 

Depersonalize

You want future homebuyers to be able to picture themselves inside your home - it could be their new home soon! Start taking down knick knacks and family momentos. It's likely you won't be able to take everything down before you move, but you don't want your entire life story on display.

Staging

If you want the best offers on your home, you absolutely need to stage your home! Consult with a professional. Get local recommendations and advice before you decide on who to hire. 

Staged homes typically sell faster and receive better offers. People hire interior designers for their homes for a reason, and staging is essentially the same concept to make your home more appealing to homebuyers.

Renovations

Renovations can make a home more desirable, but they are costly. If you're going to renovate anything, keep it small and affordable. Big renovations are rarely ever worth it when it comes to selling a home, as sellers typically only recoup a portion of the cost. Not to mention, every homebuyer has their own personal preferences... and sometimes it's better off as a project for the next owner.

Again, consider consulting with a professional, perhaps a realtor, when it comes to choosing which projects may be worth the effort and cost. 

Say Goodbye to the "Antiques"

If you have an older home, you may have outdated light fixtures, light switches, rugs or even shower doors. Consider replacing those ugly, old fixtures with something neutral and affordable (but not cheap). You don't need to go out and spend thousands on a brand-new chandelier... but be mindful of everything you have on display and how it may appeal to your future homeybuyers.

This list may seem long and intimidating at first glance, but it is the exact reason you are starting to prepare now! Spring is still a few months away and you have time to get everything in order before your home hits the market!

Make checklists, a schedule and reach out to professionals for their advice and assistance where needed. If you're looking for a guide through the entire process, reach out to us and we'd be more than happy to help! Contact us at 856-264-8671 or email scott@zhomesrealestate.com today.