Is Spring a Good Time to Sell a Home?

Yes! Spring fever hits, the school year end
is in sight, and moving in the summertime presents the least hassles. Listing
in early spring gives you time to prepare, and have the flexibility for a long
closing date. Having a deal in hand but not having to rush to pack up is
reassuring, and staging your home can help.

Seller’s market

Get excited when you hear a real estate
professional say “seller’s market”. This is a time when home inventory is low
but demand is high. This can cause homes to sell at list price or above.

Recently, more owners stayed put, unwilling
to make a move in a time of uncertainty, so fewer homes were on the market.
Upheaval in employment caused renters to seek stability by getting into a home,
or homeowners to downsize to reduce expenses.

All this means if you plan to sell,
springtime and a seller’s market are two great reasons to do so.

Stellar showings through great staging

How a home “shows” is one of the keys to
getting a great buy offer. Staging your home is well worth the effort. A
professional stager has design knowledge, and access to furnishings and decor
items to enhance how well your home shows.

Kitchens are usually a staging focus, but
here are some tips on sprucing up other home areas that may push that offer a
little higher or win over a buyer who’s on the fence.

Patio Perfect

Outdoor spaces
are becoming more desirable with a growing trend toward connecting with nature.
Your patio surface and furniture may need some staging attention.

•
Wicker can be brushed off and
washed with a garden hose. Aluminum frames can be wiped clean and finished with
car wax. Use an oil soap and apply weather resistant stain or a urethane
topcoat to shine and preserve woods.

•
Wash cushions and covers with
water and a mild detergent. Add an “oxy” booster for any stains. Rinse and let
dry away from direct sunlight.

•
Use a pressure washer on concrete
and paving stones to make them look virtually new again.

•
Prune trees and shrubs. Add
potted plants if there’s no natural greenery, or use silk plants. Your home
stager can supply beautiful silk plants that potential buyers will never guess
aren’t real.

Home Entertainment Staging

The trend of
staying home more will likely continue for a while. Staging an entertainment
space, even temporarily for showings, can be a big draw for buyers. If you
don’t have the room to go full-on home theater, create a media area away from
immediate traffic that’s multipurpose.

•
Comfortable seating arranged
around focal point

•
Focal point with large
wall-mount TV or stunning Laser Projector System
screen. Have a movie or show running at low volume during showings

•
Have a desk area for studying
or computer work and stage with a (secured) laptop and books

•
Set out some snack bowls,
inviting guests to help themselves to pre-wrapped treats

Staging A Welcome Entrance

Curb appeal is
important, but don’t invest in major landscaping. Here are a few ways to draw
buyer’s eyes from the outside.

•
Keep the lawn mowed, and trees,
shrubs and flowerbeds trimmed.

•
Paint your front door an
enticing color, and place potted plants on either side. The color should be
deep and contrast highly with the rest of the house, but also invoke good vibes.
According to psychology, these colors represent different feelings:

o
Red: creativity, appetite.

o
Yellow: optimism.

o
Orange: abundance, passion

o
Purple: status, opulence.

o
Blue: trust, confidence.

o
Black: dedication, commitment.

•
Remove drapes that show a
blank, vinyl backing to the street. Use sheers or temporary paper blinds to
allow light but shield the interior, heightening curiosity. After all, you want
buyers to come in and see the whole show!