Tips to Prepare Your Home to Sell in the Spring Market

According to a recent Washington Post article, housing industry experts are looking forward to a strong housing market again in the upcoming year. With increased demand from homebuyers who delayed purchasing last year as well as those seeking more space to accommodate work and schooling from home, we are already seeing an increase of activity in the early spring market. However, we are also seeing a decrease in inventory.

Perhaps you are considering selling your home this season. We would like to share a few tips for those who are starting to prepare their home for sale.

Do you have an insulated garage, unfinished basement, or unattached space that can be converted to useful space? Due to the coronavirus pandemic, homebuyers are seeking extra space to use for professional or personal space. Home offices, child-friendly workspaces, and home gyms can add significant value to your home. Don’t let that unused space go to waste.

Neat and tidy spaces make your living spaces appear larger and more welcoming. Before listing your property, make sure to get rid of all the clutter in the bedrooms, hallways, kitchen, bathrooms, and basement. Many buyers are looking for storage areas, such as large kitchen pantries and well-organized mudrooms. Finally, make sure that all the surfaces of your home shine. It is especially important to clean windows and doors inside and out to allow plenty of natural light into your home—an organic feature many homebuyers are seeking.

You only have one opportunity to make a great first impression. This is especially true in the hot DC metro region housing market. Curb appeal gives buyers an initial impression of a property before they ever step foot inside. The home’s exterior hints at what one can find on the other side of the front door. Make sure the exterior of your home looks neat and well kept by cleaning gutters and pressure washing the exterior, fixing broken shutters, and professionally cleaning exterior windows. If your home is painted, give it a fresh coat (or at a minimum, do touch-ups) and consider giving your front door an update; a recent report shows that homes with charcoal, smoky grey, or jet black front doors sell for $6,271 more than expected.

Over the past year, a premium has been placed on outdoor living space. From welcoming front porches to expansive outdoor kitchens, buyers are hoping to find defined outdoor living and entertaining spaces. By adding cozy blankets and pillows to existing outdoor furniture, planting hearty plants and ornamental trees, incorporating outdoor lighting into current spaces, and adding a heat lamp or fire pit, buyers can imagine themselves using the home’s outdoor space year-round.

Did you know that a properly staged home could sell faster and at a higher price than homes not staged? Of those surveyed, 83 percent of buyers’ agents said staging a home made it easier for a buyer to visualize the property as a future home. The most common rooms that were staged include the living room (93 percent), kitchen (84 percent), master bedroom (78 percent), and the dining room (72 percent). Staging your home gives each room a purpose and allows the entire home to be seen as a cohesive space. In most instances, staging pays for itself in a quicker sale at a better price.

Our professional team at The Alliance Group understands that preparing your home for listing can be an overwhelming experience. From suggesting local nonprofits accepting donations of furniture and household accessories to offering strategic home renovations and staging through Sotheby’s International Realty White Glove service, we are here to help! Contact us today if you need help preparing your home for the spring market.