Spring is the best time of the year to sell a house. It’s been proven time and again that this lovely season of blooming flowers and mild weather is the ideal time to put your home on the market.





There are a number of reasons why spring is the perfect time to sell a home, not the least of which is that it allows families who are buying a new home time to get settled and adjusted before their children start school in the fall.





In addition, the buyer who makes a decision about a home purchase in spring can do so without the distractions of summer, which include vacations as well as kids who are home from school and need undivided attention. In other words, the less-busy days of spring can be the ideal time to take your time to look carefully at various options and then make a wise, well-thought-out decision.





But everything is different this year. Most regions in the U.S. have pretty much missed out on the booming spring real estate market. Few people have listed their homes for sale during these last several months, and even fewer have decided that this was the time to buy. As such, everything has been pushed back a few months and – only now – as the country starts to open up a bit more, are homeowners and potential homeowners thinking about buying or selling.





It’s not likely that many individuals, couples, or families will be participating in much of a vacation this year or will be otherwise committed to traveling out of their area, so now’s the time to spruce up your home and attract buyers that would have been looking a few months ago.





So, how can I get my home ready for a summer sale?





Summer is a season of light and color, so create an appeal that truly speaks of the season. You’ll have plenty of time to do that when you’re not encumbered with school activities, commuting to work, and so forth.









Curb appeal – Start with the outside of your house and make sure everything looks pristine. Cut the grass each week, trim the shrubs, plant some colorful flowers, weed your garden, sweep the walkways, paint your front door. Remember, what a buyer sees when they drive by – and they WILL drive by, even in this age of quarantine – is the first impression they’ll get.





Make use of natural light – Summer is all about the sun, so let the light in by changing heavy curtains to sheers, opening blinds, and shades, and adding mirrors to small rooms or spaces to make them look brighter and larger. The more natural light, the better





Add some summer accents – If your home is full of maroons, dark greens, browns, and blacks, consider changing some accents to make it look more summery. Invest in some inexpensive accent pillows in pastels or ocean colors and do the same with curtains and bedspreads, if possible. Put a bowl of lemons and limes on the kitchen counter and set the table(s) with colorful dishes and glasses. Add fresh cut flowers whenever possible.





Show off your outdoor space – If you have a backyard that’s ideal for summer fun, highlight it Set up some outdoor furniture, shine up your grill, and even put up a volleyball net or set out other sports equipment. Show your potential buyers that this is a fun house for family and guests to enjoy





Pay attention to the temperature indoors – If you have central air or even window-unit air conditioning, be sure that you are using it on hot days when buyers are looking. There’s nothing that’ll turn off a buyer more than a hot, steamy house, even if the listing info says you have central AC. Keep it comfortable The extra money spent running your AC will likely pay off in the long run.









Selling a home will likely be harder this year simply because of all the outside influences caused by Covid-19 and the restrictions that are necessary for safety, but doing what you can to make your house attractive can mean a world of difference.





Have questions about selling your home this summer? Talk to our realtors for more specific details on post-pandemic selling.