While the hectic holiday season may be all wrapped up, if you’re planning to sell your home in the coming months, the busiest time of year could still be around the corner. Spring and early summer often mean peaking prices and swelling inventory for the real estate industry, but getting an earlier start can make taking advantage even easier.

Start Fresh

If you’ve been trying to sell your home for a while, it could be time to reset your efforts. A home that has been listed for sale through the winter may be at a disadvantage due to its extended ‘days on market.’ Consider pulling the property for a few weeks to avoid discouraging shoppers with a stale listing.

Whether it’s an ongoing or brand new effort, a successful home sale can depend on how well buyers can envision themselves in the home. A fresh coat of neutral paint throughout the house, and removing family photos and personalized décor can go a long way toward making that happen. Minimizing clutter to create a clean, inviting space with lots of potential is also a great way to make your home attractive to a bigger slice of home shoppers.

Don’t Ignore Repairs

A welcoming interior won’t matter much if the property’s most important systems aren’t working properly. It’s unlikely you’ll be able to close a sale without the buyers doing a third-party home inspection, so you might as well address known problems now.

A thorough review of your plumbing, HVAC, and roof before you list your home for sale will avoid any surprises and the urgency that comes with trying to do repairs during the transaction. A proactive approach now can also save you money since you’ll have more time to compare costs and be hiring during a slower season for the repair companies as well.

Create Curb Appeal

Of course, the first impression is often the most important. As soon as the weather accommodates, begin thinking about updating your home’s curb appeal. Check with your local nursery or garden center to see if some late-winter maintenance will aid in creating a green, weed-free lawn by spring. Buying smaller, more affordable plantings now is a smart cost-cutting approach to having beautiful landscaping by the time selling season really heats up.

Power washing the driveway, sidewalks, and exterior of a home can give it a crisp, clean look without the expense of repainting. However, if your front door is looking a little shabby, adding a fresh pop of color to it can be a vast improvement.

Hopefully, these strategies will make selling your home simpler than you expected. And if buying a home is also on your to-do list, now is the time to get started. Explore your options on our website, or call to speak with an experienced origination specialist who can guide you through the pre-approval process.