With the spring real estate market officially here, it’s prime time for sellers in the Triangle to take advantage of the season. According to new research from Zillow, the best time to list a home might be right around the corner. The sweet spot for most sellers is between March 15 and July 31. And, Zillow’s data shows in 2024, homes listed in late May gave sellers an additional 1.6 percent on their sale, which was an average of an additional $5,600. If you’re ready to put your home on the market, it’s a great time to take action.
One of the best ways to ensure you get the most out of your home is to focus on creating a great first impression. With the help of staging — which the National Association of Realtors reports can increase an offer price by 1 to 5 percent versus non-staged homes — and a few other strategies, you can create an irresistible first impression to sell fast. Here’s what you can do to prepare your home for listing.
Remove or fix what distracts from your home
Tidying your home is crucial to helping your home sell. Start by decluttering and depersonalizing your home. Spring cleaning can help you get in the mood for purging. Start getting rid of any unwanted, broken, or unnecessary items, which can make a room seem smaller and distract from what makes your home unique. Remove personal items like photos and kids’ artwork to create a neutral environment that helps potential buyers envision themselves in the home.
Next, go into deep cleaning and repair mode. As you clean, pay close attention to kitchens, bathrooms, and floors. Fix any minor issues you may have, such as scuffed or warped trim, leaky faucets, or touch-ups to paint. These small tweaks can help show your home has been well-maintained as you start showings.
Stage and decorate strategically
Staging is a highly beneficial way to highlight your home’s strengths and show potential buyers what the house can look like. For instance, arrange your furniture so that it showcases the flow and functionality of each room. Don’t overcrowd a room, and if you have a large room, use oversized furniture that fits the space. Consider added storage spaces in bedrooms to keep clutter at bay. You can also add accessories like throws, pillows, and duvet covers to pull a room together by layering colors and textures.
Keep kitchen countertops clean or styled with fresh flowers or fruit and put new towels and small plants on bathroom counters. It may be worth it to hire a professional staging company that can make this process even easier.
Enhance your home’s curb appeal
The first thing a potential buyer sees when considering a purchase is the outside of your home. The exterior often sets the tone for what the buyer expects to see on the inside. That means your home’s curb appeal is every bit as important as staging the inside of your home. Make a great first impression by focusing on the outside of your home.
Spring is a great time to refresh your garden and focus on landscaping. Plant seasonal flowers, trim overgrown bushes, and mow your lawn to keep it looking its best. Take time to power wash the siding, clean your gutters, and even paint or touch up your front door and porch, which can create a more inviting home from the start.
Highlight outdoor spaces
Warmer weather provides a great opportunity to create welcoming outdoor areas, which can become significant selling points. As you stage the inside of your home, you can also focus on staging the outside to demonstrate the potential your home has for relaxation and entertainment.
If you have a patio or deck, add patio furniture and decorate with outdoor pillows to add color and texture. Using planters with spring flowers can cozy up a space. You can also do things like add string lights, put down an outdoor rug, or add a fire pit to help potential buyers picture entertaining or relaxing in that space and sell a lifestyle they want.
Ask for advice from your real estate agent
One of the best ways to prepare your home for sale is to ask for advice directly from your real estate agent. A great agent will have advice on how to make your home sale-ready or can help you stage your home to make it go fast.
Some agents provide professional photography, which will capture your home in its best light. And some may virtually stage your home to enhance online searches. Make sure that your agent also has a marketing plan in place that will help promote your home and attract online interest, which is critical for buyers in 2025.
By implementing these strategies, you can position your home to make a lasting impression on buyers in the fast-moving spring market.
