The busy spring selling season is already upon us and that means it’s time for sellers to start prepping their homes for the market. While demand is high this year, it’s still as crucial as ever to properly prep a home for the market before listing it.
Having a home that’s 100 percent ready to go and showing its best from day 1 can help it quickly attract buyers and offers, and avoid racking up a high number of days on the market, which Boulevard Realty broker/owner Bill Baldwin notes can turn potential buyers away from a listing.
“People like the shiny new object,” Baldwin explains. “Once your home has been on the market a few weeks, it starts to lose some of its luster and people will think something must be wrong with it, even if the home is perfectly fine.”
To help you avoid a lingering listing, Boulevard Realty’s in-house Design Selections Coordinator, Maria Branco, and some of their Top Producing Agents (including Lauren Alff and Marianne Terrell) put together a list of the Top 5 things luxury sellers need to do to get their homes ready to go on the market this spring:
1. Improve Curb Appeal
Spring is the best time of the year to make the exterior of your home stand out. Landscaping in particular is key. Now more than ever, buyers want beautiful, turnkey homes from the curb on in. And the view from the curb is the first in-person impression potential buyers will have of your home so you want to make it count.
2. Provide Efficient Use of Space
Even luxury homes, decorated by renowned designers, can use some staging touches. Confusion on how to use a certain room can cause buyers to look towards another property so staging and getting rid of excessively big furniture is important. Sometimes you might need to temporarily move large lamps or other items that look great in the home, but will block sight lines in photos.
3. Add a Fresh Touch
Taking time to spruce up can help generate more offers: clean, declutter, paint, regrout, and fix minor repairs. Consider restaining or painting the front or back door for a small change that can really make a difference.
4. Depersonalize Decor
Listings should appeal to as many buyers as possible...remove family photographs and personal items, including religious and political elements. Take down animal heads too! In addition, be sure to completely remove all valuables from the home!
5. Make Listing Instagrammable
The better a listing shows, the easier it will sell. One beautiful shot on social media may be all it takes to capture the right buyer so you want to make sure your home has that “wow” factor. In an effort to create a picture perfect home for spring, you might consider lightening it up. Spring is the time to change out your fabrics for cooler colors, lighter throws, linens, etc.—this will produce a more inviting feel.
Photography by: Boulevard Realty