How to Prepare Your Home for the Spring Market
Prepare Your Home for the Spring Market
If you plan on selling your home this spring, now is the time to get it sale ready. Toronto winters are harsh on our homes. It’s not uncommon for the landscaping to be a mess when the snow melts and for your floors to have salt stains from winter boots. Before you list your home, prepare your home with these five tips.
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Tidy the Landscape
House shoppers notice the exterior of your house the moment they pull up. This includes the lawn, garden beds, and front porch. Once the snow has melted, clear out any fallen debris from your yard. Remove bush covers and prune any unruly branches. You may want to plant some ready-to-bloom flowers and turn over the soil. Ensure the path to the front door is clear and the grass is trimmed.
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Clean the Exterior
Next, rent or buy a power washer and clean the outside of your house. This includes the siding, the roof, and the windows. Make sure you wash both sides of the windows to ensure they’re crystal clear. Sweep the front porch and remove any junk; if your garbage and recycling bins sit near the front door, hide them elsewhere. Add a new door mat, a clean mailbox, and a fresh coat of paint on the door and you’re golden.
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Fix Anything That’s Broken
You might not have time to do any major renovations if you want to list in the spring. Instead, focus on fixing anything that’s broken. That includes loose roof shingles, leaky faucets, scuffed hardwood floor planks, and more. Buyers notice small flaws like these when they tour your home. If you need a handyman to complete the repairs, remember that they’re busier and often charge more in the summer. The sooner you fix these things the better.
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Eliminate Bad Odours
Your windows and doors were closed all winter which means the air has been recycling for a while. Now that it’s spring, open things up and air out your house. Replace your home’s air filter and do a deep clean of the interior. You may want to get the carpets shampooed before listing, especially if you have pets. It’s normal not to notice the odours in your own home, but buyers certainly will.
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Declutter
There’s no time like spring to do some decluttering. They call it spring cleaning after all! On a free weekend, go through the different rooms in your house and declutter. Throw out any garbage and donate things you no longer need or use. Make your storage spaces, like the linen closet and garage, look half empty. This allows buyers to be able to see the full space and imagine their belongings there.
Interested in Selling Your Home This Spring?
Springtime is an excellent time of year to sell your home. The weather is warmer, we spend more time outside, and buyers are more willing to go to open houses. Take advantage of these benefits by getting your home ready to list on the spring market.
Ed Abdou has over 20 years of experience helping clients buy and sell their homes in the GTA. Contact us today to get the home selling process started.