Get ready for a Spring Sale

This spring is still a great time to sell

Traditionally, spring is a great time to sell your property. There’s something about longer days, spring flowers and the first buds on the trees which makes us all think about new beginnings and fresh possibilities. But with all the talk of upheaval in the housing market and the less than cheerful stories which we see on the news every day is spring 2023 still a good time to sell?

In short, we really believe it is. In fact, what we are already seeing and expecting to continue throughout the spring is a return to a more normal market for sellers and for buyers. By ‘more normal’ we don’t mean a market like the one we’ve seen over the past two years, with buyers falling over each other and embarking on bidding wars to try to secure their chosen property. Instead, we mean a return to a market where sellers who take advice and ask the right price for their property can expect to get sensible offers and sell successfully – and a market where good estate agents who really know their local market are worth their weight in gold. Already this year we are seeing plenty of sales going through at prices which sellers are really happy with, and we have every confidence that this spring will once again be a great time to sell.

So, if you decide to go for that spring sale, what can you do to help make your property sell really well? Here’s our list of do’s and don’ts to make sure your spring sale is successful

Do pay attention to curb appeal

Think about what a prospective buyer sees the minute they arrive outside your property. You might want to jet wash the path, put some fresh potted plants on either side of the front door, and maybe even give your front door a fresh coat of paint. Anything which immediately shows the buyer that this is a well-kept, attractive property gets things off to a great start.

Do follow your nose

One of the first things a buyer will notice when they walk through your door is what they can smell. Last night’s curry or this morning’s cooked breakfast is not something which says fresh and clean, and while you might be partial to a scented candle you never know what is going to be overpowering for someone else. The best approach is to start with a clean, fresh house, and then go for subtle natural aromas. One of the easiest ways to achieve this is with fresh flowers, with the added benefit of bringing natural colour, beauty and a touch of class to your home.

Do declutter

There are lots of reasons to declutter your home when preparing it for sale. When potential buyers view a property they want to be able to imagine themselves living there. If your home is filled with numerous collections or bursting at the seams with personal mementos, all a buyer will see is you and your family. Personal items can also make a buyer lose focus – when they are intrigued by you they are failing to see how they can make your property theirs. And a full or disorganised room will make the space feel smaller, and one thing all buyers are looking for is space. So take time to make your home as free of clutter as you possibly can.

Don’t have your pets around

After all, some love them, some hate them and some are allergic to them, so make sure that on the viewing they are out of the house to prevent one of three things happening. 1) pet lovers who pay more attention to your pets than your home; 2) pet haters who feel uncomfortable right from the start, and just rush round and leave as quickly as they can; and 3) people who are allergic to pets who have an immediate reaction and can’t contemplate living there. Also take the time to remove all pet toys and accessories, bowls, and most of all litter trays.

Do make the best of your garden

Even though we are just coming out of winter you want any garden area to be looking its best, from your lawn to beds to pots, no area should be ignored. Give your lawn some love so that it’s looking green and luscious rather than brown and patchy. Invest in some seasonal plants and shrubs that will add colour and remind buyers that it’s spring. Arrange some garden furniture to help prospective buyers imagine how they will use the garden to entertain friends or just relax at the end of a hard day. Thinking of your garden as another important living space will help to make your home even more saleable.

Do a spring clean

As obvious as it sounds, you’d be amazed at how many people miss this basic step. Now is not the time to go for the “they’ll have to take us as they find us” look. It is, however, the time to make your property the cleanest and tidiest it has ever been. You want a buyer to be imagining living in this beautiful space, not looking at the dust on the window sills or the tide mark in the bath. And don’t forget to make your windows sparkle too with a thorough clean inside and out. Which leads onto our next pointer.

Do think about lighting

Light is so important, and it is relatively cheap and easy to get right. Clean windows will let natural light in, but also think about adding lighting to make rooms feel bright, spacious and inviting, even in the day time. It’s not difficult or expensive to add a carefully chosen lamp to any darker spots around your property. After all, no one wants to move into a drab, dark home, so do think about the lighting in every room to make the best of all spaces.

Don’t forget to think about the details

People really do notice the little touches, and these can leave a lasting impression without costing the earth. Consider investing in a set of fresh towels for the bathrooms, fresh linen on the beds, perhaps some luxury soap, and certainly some fresh flowers in nice vases around the house. These are all ways of making your home feel special. Think about the things you might notice in a nice hotel, and put some of that luxury feel into your home.

Don’t price it too high

To get the very best price for your home, and at the same time avoid the risk of it sitting on the market for months, do ask us for our advice. You can rely on us to know the local area inside out, to understand current market conditions, and to give you honest impartial advice about the value of your property. And once we’ve given that advice we will bring our skilled team and all their experience to bear in making sure your sales is successful.

How Heywoods can help you

If you are thinking about selling your property this spring give us a call or drop into our office to have a no obligation chat. After all, we’ve been selling houses in the local area since 1881, so you can be assured that we know a thing or two when it comes to successful spring sales.