Tips for Winning Over Spring-Time Home Buyers
Spring is the optimum time to sell a home. Regardless of whether it's a buyer's
market or a seller's
market, inventory almost always rises in the spring. Why? Because the
largest number of buyers are actively searching for a new home during the
months of April, May and June.
Here are several things you can do to improve the odds that your home will
stand out among the sea of new listings flooding the spring-time real estate
market:
1) Wash windows inside and out / polish all mirrors
Sparkle is free, and sparkle sells homes.
A potential buyer may not realize why your home seems so inviting but will
feel drawn to it if the windows are spotless and your mirrors reflect
sunlight. Cleaning is the first step to preparing
your home for sale.
2) Rake the yard / trim back bushes
Clean out dead leaves and debris in your lawn. Don't let overgrown
vegetation block the windows or path to the entrance. Cutting bushes and
tree limbs will let the sun inside and showcase the exterior of your home.
3) Mow diagonally and edge lawn along driveway / sidewalks
Artfully manicured lawns are edged and tell buyers you pay attention to
small details. Diagonally mowed lawns make your yard appear larger.
4) Transplant tulips and daffodils or buy flowers in containers
Yellow flowers stimulate buying urges. After a long winter, everybody is
anxious to see the first signs of spring. Yellow tulips and daffodils induce
feelings of happiness and contentment. Arrange containers in groups of three
or five near the entrance.
5) Clean drapes, curtains & blinds and open every window
Send your window coverings to the dry cleaners or wash, dry and press.
Toss blinds into a soapy bathtub for a quick wash. Get rid of all
accumulated dust and spider webs. Crisp linens and a spring-time breeze
through the windows invites the season inside.
6) Set out fresh-smelling flowers such as just-clipped lilacs
branches or peonies
Why not flatter your neighbors and ask if you can borrow flowers from
their yards? Natural scents are more appealing than artificial and trigger
fewer allergies among those susceptible. Peony vases are designed to hold
peonies upright, but wash the flowers first to avoid carrying ants inside.
Clever home
staging brings color and fragrance indoors.
7) Polish floors to a high gloss
Your hardwood floors should be refinished, if necessary. Make your
ceramic and linoleum floors twinkle and shine. Bleach dull grout. Thoroughly
clean all area rugs.
8) Utilize towels, throws, pillows in light colors – yellows,
pinks, pale blues, lavenders
Even if it means replacing items, towels, linens, throws and sofa pillows
are inexpensive accents you can buy. In soft spring colors, they will light
up a room. Layer towels on bathroom towel racks and place rolled wash cloths
on the counters in a fashionable pyramid.
9) Offer an outside mat for cleaning shoes & put umbrella stand
at entrance
No matter where you live, spring weather is often unpredictable. In some
states, it can be 72 degrees one day and snowing the next. If it's raining,
give buyers a place to stash umbrellas and wipe their feet before entering
your home. Some sellers lay down plastic runners across floors for
protection, but that tends to ruin the effect of a glittering polish job.
10) Fill sink with ice to chill bottled water for guests
Put a couple dozen bottles of water in a sink of ice for buyers.
11) Set out treats, individually wrapped in cellophane & tied
with ribbon
Touring homes makes buyers hungry. Give them a snack. It will give buyers
an opportunity to linger in your kitchen and marvel at its elegant
appointments, which might otherwise be overlooked.
