Curious to know what potential buyers are looking for in a home this summer? If you skipped the spring market and are gearing up to sell your home in Rhode Island this summer, there are a few things you need to know before listing. Selling a home during vacation season can be challenging, luckily, we live in a vacation state. Here are a few things to think about before listing your home this summer.
Prepare Your Home’s Exterior
Summer in Rhode Island is beautiful. Flowers are in bloom, and the weather is perfect. Take advantage of this. A home with neglected landscaping will take longer to sell. We already talked about what to do to prepare your home for the spring market, so if you’ve taken that advice, you are already one step ahead. Here is a list of exterior projects you can get started on to give your home curb appeal this summer.
- Mow the lawn
- Plant grass where needed
- Water the lawn to avoid a burnt lawn
- Trim bushes and shrubs
- Plant fresh flowers
- Water the plants to avoid dead plants
- Weed and mulch the flower beds
- Touch up any exterior peeling paint
- Paint and/or clean up the front door
- Seal the driveway
There are many other ways to prepare your exterior, these are some of the easiest, quickest ways to get started.
Declutter and Stage Your Rhode Island Home
You know what they say, “a picture is worth a thousand words,” and that is especially true in real estate. When your home is clutter-free and staged properly for the season, your home will sell quicker. Advertising your home for sale on social media means sharing beautiful, scroll-stopping photos that will attract buyers. When your home is cluttered, the photos are not aesthetically pleasing and a buyer might scroll right past it.
Summer sun lets a lot of light into your home. Open your curtains and blinds, decorate with bright colors and neutral tones like cream and tan. Add fresh flowers to your table and counters to bring in the fresh summer smell. Add lights in areas of your home that are dark and unappealing. Apply a fresh coat of paint to the interior, light colors such as cream and light gray will reflect the light and brighten up your space. Buyers should be able to visualize themselves living in your home. Depersonalize your home by taking down family photos and collectables.
Keep the Home Cool
There is nothing worse than going to a showing and breaking a sweat while walking through the house. You want potential buyers to feel comfortable in your home. Turn your AC down more than you typically would, let buyers know they can cool off in their home after a long summer day. Make sure your AC maintenance is up to date so that you don’t have any surprises when it’s time to list your home. If you do not have central air, invest in ductless mini-split units throughout the home, or whole-house fans. I have seen many homes take longer to sell because there is no central air or AC units.
Final Thoughts
Summer can be an excellent time to sell your home, if you are taking the necessary steps to make sure your home is ready for the market. Follow the steps above along with my sellers checklist to prepare. If you are ready to sell your Rhode Island home, contact Homes With Holly today. I would love to give you a free home valuation and help your home get market ready!
