If you’re on the hunt for ways to get your house ready to sell in time for spring, the good news is that winter is the ideal season to get organised.
If you ask just about any real estate agent or savvy property investor, it’s no secret that the timing of listing your property can make a significant difference to the price you receive, and how long it stays on the market.
Although the low property supply has meant that traditional buyer behaviour has changed, selling a house in spring has long been regarded as the ideal time frame. As the house and garden are often in their peak condition, sellers are therefore thought to achieve a higher sale price as a result.
However, that doesn’t mean that selling in spring provides a shortcut to a better sale price. To get your house ready to sell in time for the spring bonanza, homeowners still need to put in the work to ensure the property looks and feels its best – and the best time to start the process is during winter.
Five Must Dos To Get Your House Ready To Sell
If you’re hesitant about trying to sell your house in winter and are leaning towards a traditionally popular spring campaign, then it’s worth considering a compromise. Listings that go up in August can beat the spring rush, which usually kicks off in Victoria after the school holidays and once the AFL grand final is over. Timing is all about mastering the balancing act between supply and demand, so listing in August generally offers the best of both worlds.
Once you’ve settled on a time frame and a method of sale, it’s time to get your house ready to sell. Although the temperatures might not be ideal for getting your hands dirty, taking the time to get your property looking its best is a must if you want a quick house sale, for the best possible price.
Start Landscaping – Buyers pay careful attention to outdoor areas when shopping in spring, so to get your garden and lawn at their best, make a plan of attack in advance so that your greenery has time to grow. While landscaping has been known to add significant property value, it’s important to ensure your efforts stay in shape once the morning frost kicks in.
Do A Deep Clean – Although a thorough deep clean is crucial for selling your house at any time of the year, it’s even more important to tackle the dust, dirt and muck that can be dragged inside during the winter months. Potential buyers will ideally view the home as a sanctuary from the outside conditions, so it’s important that the home looks its shiny best.
Clean Your Gutters – If your home or investment property is surrounded by trees that lose their leaves in autumn, your gutters will quickly start to fill up with dead leaves and broken branches. While this process does no favours for the property’s infrastructure, it can also create quite the mess and meddle with your property’s curbside appeal by the time spring arrives.
Finish Any Projects – While we’re all guilty of experimenting with DIY projects as a means to keep ourselves occupied over the last two years, now is the time to complete any home improvements. While doing so, it’s also common to spot any repairs that need tackling, so it’s a good idea to tackle both these forms of outstanding tasks.
A Fresh Coat Of Paint – Nothing improves the look of a home like a fresh coat of paint, particularly when it’s to lighten the colours or bring an old-fashioned room up to date. While the same logic applies for outside, it’s a good idea to engage a professional if you want to make sure the exterior is painted correctly and at its best.
Should you be looking to sell your home or purchase a new one, enlisting the services of a free property advisor like ESPA can often be a game changer. As an example, your advisor would likely research the property, local agents, check the zoning, evaluate market conditions, and communicate clearly with you regarding all of your options – but where do you find one?
Take The Stress Out Of Selling Property
As a completely free service, Emergency Services Property Advisors provide property advisor services to Police, Fire, Ambulance and S.E.S personnel and their families right across Victoria.
Luke and the team at ESPA are passionate about providing support to some of Australia’s most valued public servants. Along with key industry insights, ESPA also works with a broad range of service providers linked to the real estate industry such as conveyancers, trades, legal practitioners and mortgage brokers.
If you are an emergency services worker looking to potentially buy or sell property in the future, please get in touch with Emergency Services Property Advisors today to discuss how we can turn your real estate dreams into reality, or call Luke directly on 0414 757 705.