A combination of warmer weather and lower interest rates, plus housing market optimism from economists and analysts, has real estate waking up from its seasonal slumber. To ensure a smooth and successful selling process, start preparing now with this guide on how to get yourself and your house ready for the bustling spring months ahead.
Find your agentA real estate agent is one of the biggest assets you can have when selling your home, and considering how busy they may be come spring, you’ll want to find yours before then. First, do your homework—talk to friends and family to see if they have any recommendations, and research the leading listing agents in your market, making sure to read through their online reviews and testimonials.
Once you’ve created a shortlist of candidates, schedule consultations with each of them to see what they might be like to work with. Make sure they have the experience you need and a solid marketing plan, and ask for details about their communication style, pricing, and other aspects of the home sale process. Most importantly, you want someone you click with. The better your agent understands your wants and needs, the more capable they’ll be of matching you with the right buyer.
Set your priceWhile your real estate agent knows the market, only you know the dollar amount you need from your home sale. Determine how much it will cost you to prepare your home, factoring in necessary repairs and improvements as well as deep cleaning, staging, landscaping, and other prep costs. Then figure out how much it will likely take for you to get into your next house. What might your total moving expenses come to? How much might you expect closing costs be on both your sale and purchase? Crunch as many numbers as possible so you can determine what sales price may best cover all your needs.
Walk your propertyTo make sure it’s ready for market, you’ll need to assess the condition of your property by giving it a thorough walk-through both inside and out. Try your best to look at it from the perspective of a potential buyer. For example, if you normally come into the house through the garage entrance, park in the driveway and come in through the front door as a buyer would.
As you conduct your inspection, keep an eye out for any issues, minor or otherwise, that may be a sticking point for potential buyers. For instance, take advantage of early spring showers to look for muddy spots that don’t dry out or slippery hardscapes that may need a pressure wash. You can also consider getting a pre-listing inspection to catch problems that could prove costly during a contract negotiation, giving you a chance to repair or upgrade them beforehand.
Declutter and depersonalizeThe next step is to begin preparing your home for tours. Walk through your interiors again, this time with the purpose of decluttering and depersonalizing. With the former, the goal is to ensure that your home feels spacious and spotless. Focus on tasks like clearing surfaces, cleaning out drawers, cabinets, and closets, and emptying out the garage. If you have oversized furniture—or a lot of furniture—consider putting some of it in storage to make your rooms look larger. As for depersonalizing, simply remove items that are specific to you. These could include family photos, fan gear, religious objects, or any other items that might keep potential buyers from picturing themselves in your space.
Boost curb appealThere’s no time like springtime to make your home look beautifully fresh and cheerful. You can easily improve your curb appeal by doing any or all of the following:
- Freshen up your front door with a new coat of paint and some gleaming new hardware.
- Add plants and flowers in pots or window boxes on your front porch or back deck.
- Consider an exterior lighting upgrade, especially early in the season when the days are still shorter.
- Keep your lawn manicured with regular mowing, edging, and weeding, or hire a landscaper to do so on a consistent schedule.
- Have your driveways, sidewalks, siding, and windows pressure washed.
- Upgrade or paint your mailbox, and add new house numbers if needed.
- If you or the kids typically cut across the yard from the garage or driveway, create a well-defined pathway through it with pavers or stepping stones.
- Add outdoor seating to create conversation and alfresco entertainment spaces.
- Refresh the paint or stain on your exterior trim, shutters, or fencing.
- Add mulch to your planting beds, and refresh your landscaping features.
- Hide your trash and recycling bins in the garage or by adding a strategically placed fence.
Prepare for photos and showingsOnce everything is clean and organized, talk to your real estate agent about how to get ready for marketing photos and buyer visits. They can give you tips on the best ways to stage your spaces for photos, which they will typically take care of, and what considerations to keep in mind for showings. For instance, if you have pets, you may want to have them stay with a loved one or board them during showings; this will help prevent them from being overwhelmed by all the unfamiliar people and keep your spaces free of pet odors. And you should always open shutters and drapes before leaving the house in the morning to make your home as welcoming as possible for any visitors that day.
Schedule your rolloutWork with your real estate agent to decide the timing of your listing. Do you want it to hit the market at the very beginning of the spring season or after it’s in full swing? Feel free to ask questions about your agent’s selling strategy, including open houses or other events they aim to hold. If you have any concerns or specific priorities, they can work with you to craft a plan that suits your needs best.
Earning top dollar for your home sale means staying flexible and making the effort to get your home in tip-top condition. Stay focused on the exciting move that awaits after the sale, trust your real estate agent’s guidance, and enjoy the journey—you’ll be able to hang that “Sold” sign before you know it.