Summer is the season when home selling really starts to heat up. According to a study by ATTOM Data Solutions, the months of June, July, and August are some of most seller-friendly months of the housing market.
But, despite the summer being a popular time for real estate, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t put some work in when trying to sell your home. By using some of these staging tips, you’ll make your home more welcoming to potential buyers.
Add some flair to your curb appeal.
Try adding some color to your yard by planting summer flowers and plants. Even some inexpensive annuals can add elegance to your yard and leave an impression. If you don’t want to plant anything new in your yard, add some planters of flowers around your outdoor space—once you move, you can bring this new greenery along to decorate your new home.
A fresh coat of paint can really help your front door stand out. You can go with a classic color like white or charcoal, or go for a pop of color like red or yellow. Other curb appeal changes to make to your home include:
- Replacing your mailbox.
- Upgrading your house numbers to a modern font.
- Switching out a worn welcome mat for a new one.
- Pressure washing your home’s siding to give it a good-as-new look.
Highlight your outdoor space.
The summer is a prime time to use outdoor spaces like patios and decks, and you should emphasize these spaces when selling your home. Make sure to leave your patio setup with chairs, tables, and even a grill to give buyers an image of what their outdoor entertaining could look like. Add some colorful accents that capture the summer spirit with an outdoor rug or a center piece for a table, and you can include a few throw pillows to emphasize the coziness.
Other outdoor space enhancements you should consider before showing your home include:
- Decluttering your yard by putting away any gardening tools or kids toys.
- Power washing and refinishing your deck, patio, or fence.
- Checking and upgrading your outdoor lighting for showings in the evening.
- Trimming any trees and shrubs.
- Adding a layer of mulch to flower beds.
Keep it cool.
Depending on where you live, the summer can range from warm to sweltering. While you may typically turn off the air-conditioning or raise the temperature before leaving your home, you should instead leave it at a comfortable temperature for the showing. Also, leave ceiling fans on to help circulate the air throughout your home, especially if your house doesn’t have air-conditioning. As for your yard, providing areas of shade will allow potential buyers to take their time while appreciating every aspect of your outdoor space.
Brighten things up.
Summer is filled with sunny days, and you should use this to your advantage. Start by cleaning all your windows and screens to let in as much light as possible, and keep blinds and curtains open to make your home feel spacious and welcoming. Also, keep any trees and plants near your home trimmed back so they don’t block light. If there are any dark corners or rooms in your home, install lightning or add a lamp to brighten up the space.
Keep visitors refreshed.
A welcoming gesture can’t hurt when selling your home, so provide potential buyers with refreshments. Keep it simple with bottles of water or a glass dispenser filled with cold water or iced tea, and leave a note welcoming the buyers to help themselves.
If you need more help staging your home, these tips will help you boost your home’s appeal without sacrificing time, money, and energy. By taking the proper steps to stage your home, it will be ready to swiftly sell when it hits the market.
