How to Get Your Home Ready to Sell this Spring

Now that we’ve made it through the holiday season, there seems to be one big question on everyone’s mind: how do I get my home ready to sell this spring. It’s no secret that the spring market is one of the busiest seasons in real estate – as everyone defrosts from the winter freeze, and preps for a busy summer ahead, spring is the ideal time for many folks to make real estate moves.

Busy seasons can bring higher competition for sellers, so prepping before spring hits can give you a major jump on the early market. Selling your home is a big deal, in more ways than one, and I always advise my clients to give themselves as much time as they can to prepare with intention and as little time pressure as possible. So big high five for thinking through things now, you’re already on the right track! 

This blog post will cover the two most important things you can do to prepare to sell this spring. So get your notebook ready and grab your favorite pen, and let’s get into it!

Lay the Groundwork

Whether it’s your first home with a partner, the home you raised your family in, or the last home you’ll live in before you’re off on a new adventure, deciding to sell your home is often filled with emotions, and can sometimes be a complex decision. So if you’re feeling some big feelings around this, know that you’re not alone!

The first step in getting your home ready to sell this spring, is actually getting yourself ready to sell your home. It might sound a little silly, but taking a moment to make sure you’re aligned and supported from the jump can really help make the process as smooth as possible in the long run.

Get Clear on Your Goals

There are so many different valid reasons to sell a home. Are you hoping to expand your floorplan to accommodate a growing family? Are you looking to reallocate closer to your community? Are you interested in taking on a fixer project, and are ready to jump into that adventure?

For many, these goals are already clear, and are the obvious why behind the decision to sell. But if you feel ready for the next stage, but aren’t quite sure why, I would encourage you to explore that feeling and align on what’s next. Down the road when you’re setting things like listing price or timeline, it’s important to know what you need out of your current home, to set you up for success on your next adventure.

Get Connected to Your Team

Hear me when I say this: it is never too early to get connected with an agent, even if you’re still figuring out your plan. You are not jumping the gun – in fact, it can be highly beneficial to connect early and come up with a plan together.

While this blog will cover the big picture paint strokes on how to get your home ready to sell, an agent will be your number one resource for your specific situation, and your specific home. They can help you form a realistic timeline, chat through what projects to prioritize, and keep you up to date on the market and what they are seeing in your neighborhood.

Whether you want to reconnect with someone you’ve already used, or you’re on the hunt for someone new, now is a great time to take those next steps.

Create a List (or two!)

When it comes to house projects, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. What is necessary to fix? How do I prioritize? How do I budget?

To put it simply: your agent will inform you on what will make your house the most marketable, and then you’ll be able to decide how much time and resources you’re able to contribute to get your home ready to sell.  Major house projects and big fixes are never mandatory, but at minimum, replacing those burnt out light bulbs and fixing those squeaky door hinges can go a long way in getting the most for your home.

My biggest tip here is to create two lists: one for low-hanging fruit and one for larger scale projects. The first will include small fixes, easy DIYs, and projects that don’t take a ton of time, whereas the second will be the more intensive projects that require a lot of work, a higher budget, or pulling in additional resources. What exactly goes into each list? Well keep reading, friend, that’s next!

Tackle Low-hanging Fruit

Everyone’s low-hanging fruit list might be different – for those that are handy, things like upgrading kitchen hardware or replacing outdated appliances may feel like quick and easy projects, but for most of us, low-hanging fruit projects are much simpler. 

When it comes to quick and easy projects, I recommend focusing on things you can get done after a full day of work, or on a weekend morning before fun plans. There may be more of these projects, but ideally, you should be able to hammer them out without too much stress.

Here are some of the things I recommend my clients add to their low-hanging fruit list:

• Replace any burnt out bulbs

• Fix any squeaky hinges (doors, cabinets, closets, etc.)

• Clean any carpet stains

• Fix any chips in the paint or holes in the walls

• Make sure any drafty doors/window are sealed

• Clean out any drains that are slow

• Pull weeds and clean debris from the yard

• Organize any visible spaces

First impressions go a long way when it comes to attracting potential buyers and getting top dollar for your home, so setting aside some time to tackle the low-hanging fruit can be hugely impactful when it comes time to sell.

Plan out Larger Scale Projects

If you have the budget, time, or resources for larger scale projects, those have the potential to really increase the value of your home. While big projects are never necessary, they can help make your home as marketable as possible.

Here are some potential larger scale projects I recommend to my clients:

• Replace outdated hardware/fixtures

• Clean up/upgrade landscaping

• Replace any damaged/outdated flooring

• Restain deck and/or fence

• Repaint exterior and/or interior

• Repair any roof/chimney deterioration

• Replace any outdated/broken appliances

Are the items from this list 100% necessary? Technically, no. But could they increase the value of your home and help you sell it more quickly? Totally. Everyone’s resources and skillset is different when it comes to tackling larger scale projects, so your agent can always help prioritize and clarify which ones matter the most.

Final Thoughts

Just thinking about how to prepare to sell your home this spring means that you are already way ahead of schedule – so good job! Selling your home is a big deal, and it’s a decision best made with ample time to prepare and plan.

Laying the groundwork first by getting clear on your goals and talking with your team can make a huge difference in approaching this process informed and with intention. Your agent will help you put a plan in place, and make those lists you’re going to live by for the next few months as you get ready to sell.

While everyone’s low-hanging fruit and large scale projects lists might look a little different, the concept is still the same – one list for quick-fixes, and another one for big projects. The first tends to be the more essential items that will have a major impact on first impressions, and the second is never necessary, but could give you a huge boost in getting the most from your home.

Just know, you’ve totally got this, and if there’s anything you need, I’m always here to help.

Ready to get started? Send me a message or schedule a complimentary consultation to get the ball rolling.