Spring is an excellent time to sell your property for a variety of reasons. As the seller, you will want to prepare your home in the right way, as this gives you the best chance of attracting great buyers, achieving a higher sales price, and, ultimately, locking in a successful sale.
In this guide we explain why spring is a great time to put your property on the market, and we explore specific strategies for getting your house ready.
Why spring is an ideal time to sell
Property sellers in New Zealand often hold off until spring to list their property. One of the reasons is the sunnier weather and blossoming gardens making properties look more appealing. Additionally, buyers are motivated to get out and about after the cold, rainy months. Unsurprisingly, buyers tend to be more inclined to attend open homes when the weather is sunny and mild, rather than overcast and rainy.
Spring’s longer daylight hours, along with people wanting to move in before the Christmas holiday period (and new school year) are also driving factors. Hence the market tends to see an uplift in spring. In turn, sellers recognise more buyers lead to increased competition, higher prices, and possibly a quicker sale for their property.
Strategies for readying your home to sell in spring
Even though sales outcomes tend to be stronger in spring, more sellers and a larger number of properties mean more competition for your property. This means you will still need to have a focused strategy to boost your chances of a great sale outcome. Ideally this strategy will include property staging and presentation. Follow these tips to maximise your property’s appeal to buyers.
1. Spring clean
Start with a complete spring clean to get your house ready for the sale. Clean glass doors and windows from the outside and inside. Remove cobwebs and give everything a good dusting and vacuum. Wash curtains and dust blinds, lighting, and other fixtures. Clean and polish doorknobs, mirrors, switches, taps, and fittings.
Have your carpets professionally steam cleaned. Wipe down cupboards and all exterior and interior surfaces like closet doors as well as shelves and drawers. Pay particular attention to kitchens and bathrooms, and have your tiles and grouting cleaned by experts if necessary.
2. Increase curb appeal
First impressions count when it comes to buyers’ opinions, so make your exteriors stand out. Tidy up your front and back garden by clearing away any clutter from your front section. Use a water blaster to hose down driveways and garden pathways and make sure you remove any oil stains. Rake away dead leaves, prune dead winter growth, and do a thorough weeding. Have your roof and gutters cleaned by professionals. Remove any large bushes and trim away tree branches to clear the exterior view for prospective buyers.
Trim your lawn edges for a clean and orderly look. Fix dead, bald, or yellowing lawn patches by seeding and fertilising these spots. Adding small improvements like mulch can make a big difference while reducing the need for ongoing weeding. Get rid of any shabby-looking outdoor items like rusting deck chairs and creaking swing sets.
Consider repainting fences, exterior walls, and the letter box. For a pop of colour, add flowers and green shrubbery to your front garden. Do not forget to fertilise your lawn and garden beds for vibrant springtime growth. Make an impact by introducing statement pots and plants to your entrance. Remember to keep up with watering to keep your lawn, flowers and trees looking their best.
3. Remove personal items
Take the opportunity to declutter your house by throwing away or donating anything you are not using. Remove as many personal effects from your property as possible. Decluttering makes your interiors and storage spaces look more spacious, and depersonalising your home provides potential buyers with a blank canvas to imagine the house as their own.
Remove family photos, souvenirs, and accolades. Consider putting oversized, worn-looking, or clashing furniture pieces into storage. Anything you leave, like clothing hanging in your closet and plates in cupboards, should be in good condition and tidily arranged.
4. Accessorise the interior
Staging your property allows you to target specific demographics and possibly achieve a better price. An experienced real estate agent is your best adviser when it comes to staging. He/she can pinpoint the special features and guide you on how to highlight these with staging.
So, what exactly does staging involve? You could rent furniture, artwork, and additional accessories to accentuate your property’s top features. These can be used to repurpose rooms - such as turning an extra bedroom into a nursery or a home office - depending on your target demographic.
You can add basic touches yourself, such as updating old towels, rugs, and linen with new ones. Draw back the blinds to let in natural light and add fresh bouquets of flowers. During inspections, the agent might recommend added elements like relaxing music and pleasing aromas with baking cookies and freshly brewed coffee.
5. Do any necessary repairs and maintenance
Take an objective look at your interiors and note any flaws, defects, or damage. Repair leaky taps, loose doorknobs, and faulty light switches. Give damaged walls a fresh coat of paint and consider having carpet stains removed by professionals. If you have timber flooring, think about having them restrained.
6. Work with an expert
A real estate agent works closely with you at every step of your sale, ensuring you are staging and preparing your property correctly. They can check you are working off an accurate value for your home and assist with your contracts and paperwork.
Spring is a busy time for both buyers and sellers, and your agent can help make your property stand out and successfully market it to your target demographic. In addition, you could have the full confidence that it is truly the right time to sell if you have the help of a real estate expert who knows your local market, like LJ Hooker’s highly experienced agents.
Achieving a successful sale in spring
Spring is a preferred time to sell and buy, and as a seller, you could enhance your chances of getting a great price and achieving a faster sale by preparing your property in the right way. Decluttering, cleaning, and depersonalisation are essential strategies to apply, along with working with an experienced real estate agent.
If you are preparing to sell your property, make sure you get in touch with an experienced real estate agent and obtain an accurate property appraisal. You can get a better understanding of where your property stands in the market today by getting a free property appraisal with an LJ Hooker agent.
