Let’s face it, you home may have been listed over the winter and are still lingering on the market. Now is the perfect time to add a touch of spring to get buyers in the mood to write an offer.
1. Spring Cleaning
Time to get rid of the cobwebs and winter dust. I’m talking about some serious cleaning here! Baseboards need to be wiped down. Light fixtures and fans need to be dusted. Windows must be cleaned so you can open up the curtains and let that beautiful spring sun shine in. And speaking of curtains, if your client has heavy drapes, now would be a good time to have them cleaned or – better yet – replace them with lighter weight curtains or sheers for the warmer seasons. If the walls are covered in scuff marks, one great way to spruce them up without painting is Mr. Clean® Magic Eraser®. There are generic brands on the market too, and you can buy them at Target or any drug store. I keep at least 3 or 4 of these in my staging kit at all times!
2. Clear the Clutter
Clutter takes up valuable space and distracts buyers from seeing the potential of a home. In fact, I tell my clients that “Clutter eats equity!”
Go through your closets and pack their winter clothes in boxes or suitcases that they store in the garage. Clearing out heavy coats will make the closets appear more spacious. It should appear as if there’s so much storage space that the homeowner can’t even fill it all!
While you’re going through your closets, get rid of anything you are not taking with you to your new home. Is it going to be taken to the dump? Donated to charity? Given to a relative? Now is the time to figure that out. Remember, you’re going to be moving anyway, so you might as well pack up early. You will not only make a better impression on buyers, but when you do sell the home, you’ll have made that much more progress towards getting packed and moved out.
3. Brighten It Up
Does the living room have a dark sofa that seemed perfectly cozy in colder months, but now is making the home feel dreary? Adding a light slipcover is an easy fix to give the room a whole new look!
SureFit makes wonderful slipcovers that are easy to use and stretch to fit any shape of sofa (make sure to get the stretchy kind). This one in the photo is covering up a print pattern on a sofa that was ready to go to the dump. Now it’s good as new!
Another way to brighten the decor is by adding some spring colors through art and accessories. Throw pillows are an inexpensive way to add a spring theme to a home. Aquas, light greens and tangerines will invoke that warm weather feel. Remember there is such thing as too much of a good thing! Pick one or two accent colors and use them sparingly throughout the home.
4. Check Your Curb Appeal
Walk across the street from the home and look at it from the vantage point of someone who is driving up to an open house. Are there overgrown trees hiding the front of the home? Are there still winter poinsettias planted along the walkway? It’s time to create a fresh new look that will entice buyers.
First, make sure that you’ve trimmed back any overgrown trees or bushes, especially if they are blocking a beautiful bay window or some other nice feature. Remember “If you can’t see it, you can’t sell it!”
Next plant some colorful flowers. Whether you plant them directly into the ground or in pots, bright spring flowers will make the home feel welcoming. Cover any empty patches with a fresh bag of bark chips for a finished look.
These 4 simple steps will refresh and rejuvenate that stale listing so you can attract the perfect buyer!
Like these ideas? Contact me for a gift of a 10% savings on staging your home.
Deborah Bremner
The Bremner Group at Coldwell Banker
REALTOR, 00588885,
ABR, CDPE, eAgent, CSP, SFR, HRC, CRE
(O) 310-571-1364 DIRECT
(D) (310) 800-2954
Accredited Buyer Representative | Certified Distressed Property Expert | Pre-Foreclosure Specialist Certified
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