Stage Your Home to Sell This Summer

The weather is finally – finally – warming up. Flowers are in bloom, trees have filled in, and people are emerging from the cocoon of a long winter and spring to spend time outdoors, take back to the streets, and … go home shopping.

Summer is a great time to sell a house. The market heats up with the weather and homes that have lost their luster during the dreary months of winter begin to show signs of life once again. Yes, this means mowing the lawn and cleaning up winter debris. But with the renewed vigor of summertime, spending a little time outdoors doing yard work can really pay dividends if you’re planning to sell.

And the outside of your home probably isn’t the only area where you’re spending some extra time. There’s a reason people have engaged in “spring cleaning;” airing out the house, washing windows, and maybe even renting a dumpster help to rid the accumulation of winter and can be liberating after months spent largely indoors.

All of this work goes a long way toward staging a home for sale. Let’s face it. Spring is a time of new beginnings, and summer is where those beginnings take foot! As homeowners dig out from the mantle of snow and ice, homes and lawns begin to sparkle once again. Now that the warm weather is here, homes that are for sale show well!

Here are a few additional ideas to make your home really show-ready for a summertime sale:

·  Plant a few annuals, hang a few baskets of colorful flowers, or line walkways with cheerful planters of summer flowers. Your curb appeal will take a boost from a few small investments.

·  Keep lawns and shrubbery neatly pruned and looking green and inviting. Laying fresh mulch is one of the best ways to make your landscaping look like new.

·  Clean gutters of debris and shore up any loose shutters or other fixtures that have taken a beating during the wintertime.

·  Bring out the patio furniture and open the pool if you have one – but make sure to keep everything looking clean and appealing.

·  Wash windows inside and out. Open them up and let the house air out and the sun shine in.

·  Speaking of sunshine, take advantage of the longer days and keep draperies and curtains open to let in lots of natural light.

·  Clean out closets, the basement and attic, and the garage and storage sheds on your property. Sell, donate, or store anything that you don’t absolutely need. Homes always show best when stripped of their extra clutter.

·  Go with the season. Vases of fresh summer flowers, hand towels and soaps in the bathroom that evoke the colors and scents of summer, and enticing springtime aromas will all help sell a home. Make sure that your house is sparkling for showings and open houses.

As always, your real estate agent is your best resource for staging tips when you list your home for sale. Ask him or her for secret tips that help sell a home. Then go outside and get some sun and fresh air while prospective buyers line up to see your home.