For many of us, summer holds a lifelong appeal. Maybe it is the memories of the end of school or maybe it's the warm weather – whatever the reason, summer tends to bring up positive feelings. However, not everything is better in summer. If you are going to sell your home in summer, you should know that this time of year can sometimes be surprisingly challenging for home sellers.
Tips for selling your home in the summertime
People are busy in the summer. From vacations to dealing with the kids 24/7, buyers are typically more distracted in the summer months and this is something you must account for. You not only have to compete with other sellers, you also have to compete with the season you are selling in. Given these things, you should be more cognizant of problems to take care of before selling a home. Here are some tips to help you overcome the summer season obstacle.
Keep your grass cut
In many parts of the country, the lawn goes hog-wild in the summer. All that sunshine keeps the grass growing strong – something you need to address. Buyers care a lot about the exterior of your home and unkempt grass is not a selling point. Mow the lawn as often as is necessary. Your grass will actually be healthier if you keep it a little longer, using less water and developing stronger roots. This might mean you need to mow twice a week though to keep things looking crisp.
Address the landscaping
People are more concerned than ever with curb appeal in the summer months. Plants are thriving and flowers are blooming and these are things that buyers want to see outside their potential homes. So if you have not done any landscaping to your yard, do some now. Even planting some flower beds and adding some mulch can do wonders for a plain old yard.
Keep the house cool
If you are showing your home in the summer, expect the utility bill to go up. You want the house to be a cool haven from the hot weather outside. This means keeping the air going despite all the in and out that happens at showings. The last thing you want is a buyer thinking your air conditioner doesn't work or that the house is a sweltering hotbox.
Keep it clean
This applies to selling a home at any time of year, but especially when you are getting less prospective buyers due to the season. Have your house professionally cleaned and keep it in tip-top shape while you are showing it. There is nothing that turns buyers off more than a dirty home. There is simply no reason to leave the house dirty if you really want to sell it for a good price.
Address the clutter
There are a lot less excuses for closed doors during the summer. Buyers will be ranging all around your home, from garage to basement to attic, and you do not want them getting turned off by clutter. It can even be worthwhile to rent a storage unit if you have a lot of stuff taking up space. Keep this in mind: Buyers like space. They want to get as much room for their dollar as possible. Every box and bag piled into your garage or basement reduces the amount of visible room in the home. It does not matter if the box will be moved when you leave. As far as the buyer can perceive, that space is not there.
Open up the home
If you are lucky enough to live in an area without summer rain, you may want to consider taking some furniture outdoors. Buyers – especially young buyers – are looking to connect the inside of their home to the outside of the home. They like a fluid environment and open floor plans. By taking some of your furniture outside to your patio you create more space inside and you give a more fluid impression of the space.
Quench their thirst
If your summers are hot, your viewers are going to get thirsty. They may really appreciate a cool drink while the heat is on. Bottled water is a must, but you can go further and offer up refreshing summer drinks like raspberry lemonade. Each part of the country has its own summer favorites. Embrace the season and give your guests something to take the heat off and make them relax into the home. Who knows? A cool glass of lemonade may be the ticket to a sold home.
Price your home correctly
Above all else price your home correctly. The number one reason a home does not sell is an improper price. Your home could have a myriad of problems but the correct price accounting for those problems is always of paramount importance. You could do all of the above but if you get the price wrong you still own your home come the Fall and Winter. Don't make that mistake!