The spring market may have passed but that doesn’t mean that you need to wait to list your home. Summer can be a great time to list and the market is still quite active.

Here are 5 helpful hints to ensure that your home is ready for selling in the summer:

1) Make sure that your yard is in great shape: 

In the summer, you want to ensure that your yard is inviting and well-maintained. Make sure to water and pull weeds regularly to be sure that the grass and gardens look their best. Don’t forget to stage your backyard patio as well as this can be an important summer living space for a lot of people.

2) Keep your home cool for open houses and showings:

There is nothing like walking into a cold space on a hot summer’s day! Crank up the air conditioner or open the windows if there is a cool breeze. You want potential buyers to feel comfortable in the home (and not like they are walking into a sauna!) Even if you like to keep your home a little warmer, make the adjustment at least a few hours before any showings or open houses to ensure enough time for the space to truly cool down.

3) Incorporate summer in your space:

Summer is about bright colours, flowers, and airy decor. Start by ensuring that all curtains and blinds are open to ensure a bright space for prospective buyers. Put away all the heavy blankets and dark coloured decor and consider incorporating pops of bright colour in your space. Fresh flowers are a great addition for a summer listing (and you may even be able to pick them from your garden).

4) Keep garbage smells at bay:

As the temperatures rise, the smells do too! The smell of garbage on a hot day is not the first impression you want to make so make sure that you take care of this. There are a few things that you can do to minimize the smells. Try to take out the garbage as frequently as possible and consider using your green bin if you don’t already (with weekly pick up, it will eliminate a large portion of garbage more frequently). Consider keeping your garbage outside instead of in your garage but make sure that it is well sealed to avoid critters. If you must keep it in the garage, invest in a good garbage can that will keep the smells in.

5) Consider a perfectly timed vacation:

Are you planning on going away this summer? If you are, consider going right as your home hits the market. If you do this, you may not have to worry about repeatedly cleaning for ongoing showings or finding somewhere to be when they occur. Before you leave, make sure that the air conditioning is turned up, that the house is showing ready, and that all garbage has been taken out. Also, make sure that you will be available to take offers if they should arrive so this may not be a great option for international travel.

Summer can be a great time to list a home and with a few simple steps, you can ensure that your home and yard are a desired oasis for any summer buyers. Contact us today as we would be happy to guide you through the process.

 

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