Selling your home this summer? Here are some tips to get ready!
Summer can be a great time to sell your home. The warm weather, combined with the end of the school year, can draw out buyers in droves. Families want to find a new home and get comfortable before a new school year. Plus, houses tend to show better during the spring and summer months with your trees and flowers in bloom. That’s great news if you are thinking of selling.
Here are your top 5 tips for selling a home during the summer. Waiting until the last minute to prepare your house for the market can be one of the top mistakes made when selling a home, so make sure you set yourself up for success.
When preparing to sell your home during the summer, it’s extremely important to prepare the front yard and the exterior. Here are some easy things you can do to prepare:
Save time for everyone by eliminating needless negotiations over minor repair issues. Homeowners who complete repairs prior to listing their home may end up with a higher sale price and reduce the chances that a buyer will request a lot of repairs be made after a home inspection. Handling repairs ahead of time saves you from the cost of repairs the buyers will want before closing. Your actual cost will almost always be less than a buyer’s post-inspection estimate.
By removing any of your personal items, you reduce the chance that a viewer will be distracted by it. Instead, they’ll be able to visualize themselves or their family in the house. If you still need to live in the house while trying to sell it, walk through the home and evaluate what you actually need to live comfortably. If you believe you can live without something while the house is on the market, consider moving it into storage temporarily.
If your home has central air conditioning, it’s a good idea to make sure it’s performing efficiently and has been inspected and serviced recently by a professional HVAC technician. The HVAC system will be looked at by a home inspector anyway, so it’s better to have this done sooner than later.
If your home is not equipped with a central AC unit, it’s still important to find ways to keep it cool. Consider installing window units, turning on ceiling fans, keeping lights off, keeping blinds drawn prior to showings, and placing floor fans around the home.
Each real estate agent uses different methods to price and market a home, so choose carefully! Our Loan Officers have a great network for trusted agents that they can refer you to in your local market. Find a Loan Officer here.
Here are your top 5 tips for selling a home during the summer. Waiting until the last minute to prepare your house for the market can be one of the top mistakes made when selling a home, so make sure you set yourself up for success.
Tip #1: Prepare the exterior of your home for summer
Curb appeal is everything! When prospective buyers pull up to an available house, they want to be wowed by the exterior. You never get another chance at a first impression. A house with neglected exterior can take longer to sell and may sell for less than it should.When preparing to sell your home during the summer, it’s extremely important to prepare the front yard and the exterior. Here are some easy things you can do to prepare:
- Mow the lawn and keep it looking green and maintained.
- Trim bushes and shrubs.
- Water the plants. Weed and mulch the flower beds.
- Touch up any exterior peeling paint.
- Paint and/or clean up the front door.
Tip #2: Address any necessary repairs
If you want to sell your home quickly this summer, make sure you take care of any obvious repairs that are needed. You don’t want prospective homebuyers to get distracted by leaking gutters, ugly shrubbery, or chipping paint. Cosmetic updates can have a huge impact.Save time for everyone by eliminating needless negotiations over minor repair issues. Homeowners who complete repairs prior to listing their home may end up with a higher sale price and reduce the chances that a buyer will request a lot of repairs be made after a home inspection. Handling repairs ahead of time saves you from the cost of repairs the buyers will want before closing. Your actual cost will almost always be less than a buyer’s post-inspection estimate.
Tip #3: Remove your clutter
This very simple (yet very effective) process can pay dividends. It’s time to depersonalize your home and remove any junk or unnecessary clutter.By removing any of your personal items, you reduce the chance that a viewer will be distracted by it. Instead, they’ll be able to visualize themselves or their family in the house. If you still need to live in the house while trying to sell it, walk through the home and evaluate what you actually need to live comfortably. If you believe you can live without something while the house is on the market, consider moving it into storage temporarily.
Tip #4: Keep the home cool
While the summer months can bring to mind feelings of relaxation and vacations, it often means that it is HOT. Make sure you that you keep your home cool during this time, at least when potential buyers are scheduled to view it. You want them to feel cool instead of associating the house with discomfort.If your home has central air conditioning, it’s a good idea to make sure it’s performing efficiently and has been inspected and serviced recently by a professional HVAC technician. The HVAC system will be looked at by a home inspector anyway, so it’s better to have this done sooner than later.
If your home is not equipped with a central AC unit, it’s still important to find ways to keep it cool. Consider installing window units, turning on ceiling fans, keeping lights off, keeping blinds drawn prior to showings, and placing floor fans around the home.
Tip #5: Make sure you have a qualified team behind you
Selling your home can be a somewhat stressful process. Make sure you have the best team possible behind you. Most markets have thousands of agents to choose from, so make sure you set some time aside to research and meet with a few candidates. Choosing the wrong agent can be a huge set-back for a home seller.Each real estate agent uses different methods to price and market a home, so choose carefully! Our Loan Officers have a great network for trusted agents that they can refer you to in your local market. Find a Loan Officer here.