Is it possible to sell a house easily in summer?
Spring tends to be the hottest selling season because it gives families the time to pack up and move while school is out so studies are not disrupted. Summer is a little trickier. People tend to go on vacation, when school is out most families want to spend time together and everyone wants to enjoy the summer activities and festivals!
Spring tends to be the hottest selling season because it gives families the time to pack up and move while school is out so studies are not disrupted. Summer is a little trickier. People tend to go on vacation, when school is out most families want to spend time together and everyone wants to enjoy the summer activities and festivals!
If you can wait until fall, most real estate professional will encourage you to wait. However, sometimes situations
arise where people need to sell during the summer. The owner might be
transferred to a new job, or decide to return to college in another area. There
may be other pressing family or financial issues that could necessitate an
immediate sale.
While most transactions take place between February and May,
it is still possible to sell your house fast in the summer. If done
efficiently, you still have the opportunity to get to your now place and settle
in before school starts.
Summer Strategies
Be Ready!
One of the best strategies for a summer sale is to always be ready. Some people work less hours in the summer and some may have Fridays or Mondays off. Don’t forget that buyers may not go away on vacation. Those buyers that have vacation time may use it to continue their search. Be ready!
First and foremost, make sure that your house is in the best
condition possible. Do any necessary repairs as quickly as possible and do as
much of any major repairs as possible before putting it on the market. Sellers
need to understand that buyers generally are not looking “for potential” and do
not want to tour houses that are in need of repair or being repaired.
Many sellers make the mistake of thinking that if buyers see
work being done, then they will believe that the house is maintained and in
good condition. Nothing can be further from the truth. It gives the atmosphere
of desperation! In addition, you would not want anyone visiting your house to
be injured by any tools or materials that may be left out for the work!
When buyers see a house that needs repairs, they see dollar
signs – as in how much extra it will cost them to maintain that house. Instead
of a broken hinge on a kitchen cabinet or a blemish on a counter top, they tend
to see the need for a new kitchen with all the expenses of trending
upgrades.
Fix what needs to be fixed to make the house completely
functional. The advantage is that you will be able to choose the extent of
repairs and decide on the contractor or contractors of your choice. If left
until the offer process, the buyer will generally have an over inflated list of
repairs that will have to be completed quickly before the sale is completed.
When there is a deadline for work, there is usually additional cost!
Bright and Airy
It is important that a summer viewing shows the house at its
best. It important to have the house decluttered with all unneeded items out of
the way during visits. Keep any equipment for house or yard maintenance out of
sight as much as possible. You want buyers to see your beautiful lawn – not
thinking about a day of mowing every weekend!
Keep flooring clean and sparkling. There is usually more traffic in and out during the summer months. Make sure that floors are free of dust, dirt and other unwanted debris such as grass clippings tracked in on shoes or pet’s feet.
With the kids home from school over the summer, keeping
things in check can be challenging. Get kids into the habit of storing their
possessions immediately after use. When you get that call from an interested
buyer, you don’t want to be scurrying around trying to pick up loose toys!
If you live in an area that gets a lot of rain in the
summer, keep an eye on window exteriors. Keep the glass clean. Remove any bugs,
leaves or other debris immediately after any precipitation. In that way you are
not scrambling when you get the call requesting a visit.
TIP: get a squeegee to clean your windows. For a few dollars, you will save yourself hours of time!
Decorate Summer Style
Unless there is a problem with the view, remove any heavy
drapes and hang something lighter so the sun light is maximized. If that is not
an option, hang shears and tie the drapes back back for viewings. Keep blinds up and neat for visits.
Keep colors that are suited to summer - think beach or blossoms. Switch out throw pillows, curtains and even rugs. If you never got rid of that bowl of pine cone, it's time! Bring in cut flowers and place some in every room. If you live near the coast (or have visited) use shells as part of your accessories to evoke summertime.
Look at interior design magazines for the hot trends to keep your furnishings current. Updated decor will help give the impression of a well maintained house.
Look at interior design magazines for the hot trends to keep your furnishings current. Updated decor will help give the impression of a well maintained house.
Keep It Cool
Depending on where you
live, open windows to keep the house breezy, turn on ceiling fans or set up
portable fans. If you keep the windows closed, go easy on the air fresheners,
and if you must use them, opt for summery or tropical scents. Bringing in cut
flowers from your garden would be a much better choice, if possible. If you
have air conditioning, do not set it too cold – just keep it chilly enough so
buyers don’t want to go back outside.
Curb Appeal
Now is the time to show off your house’s exterior. Keep the
landscaping sharp by mowing, pruning and weeding at least once a week. You want
your potential buyers to see the beauty and not all the work involved with
maintaining a yard. If anything is under-performing, remove and replace as soon
as possible. You do not want any questions about soil condition or disease!
Perform a routine check for any sign of infestations around the house, plants and trees and the lawn. Remove any cob webs at least weekly and especially before a visit.
Keep all paths and drives swept and weed free. Edging should
always be crisp and clean. Check for and remove flyers and business cards each
time you exit your house.
Summer Living
Summer living has great appeal. If you have a grill or fire
pit, set up an inviting entertainment area up to let buyers imagine themselves
outdoors. Or just put out comfortable chairs and drink tables out into the
garden. A sweet bench well placed amongst the flowering plants will give the
impression of relaxation time. If you have a spectacular view, make sure buyers
notice it.
Fill a pretty container with ice and add some bottled water or other drinks. Light some candles and put out some fruit and snacks.
If your front yard is a great asset, set up a table in the driveway with refreshments for your visiting buyers. Invite your buyers to stay and refresh themselves.
The longer they stay, the better!
While the kids are home from school, keep their outdoor toys
and projects under control. If buyers see toys and crafts scattered everywhere,
they will have the impression that there isn’t enough storage space in the
house. The same is true for pool and yard equipment. Keep it stowed away so
buyers don’t think of maintenance.
Give It Summer Sparkle!
Add some colorful glazed, brass or copper planters to your
landscaping – filled with fantastic blooming plants, of course! Consider adding
interest in other ways. Add a mirror to your garden or place large glass
reflecting spheres in strategic places to draw buyers in.
Look in decorating magazines if you need some inspiration. Hang some tasteful wind chimes to create pleasant welcoming sounds.
If you have some great trees or topiaries that you would like to feature, consider adding some fairy lights for night time visits.
Keep It Positive
Most buyers will expect you to be desperate this time of
year. Avoid any reference to how long your property has been on the market – if
possible. This may be easier if you are selling by yourself as an agent’s
listing will show the Days on Market.
Continue enjoying the summer in your house but keep it
showcase ready. When asked about your house, keep the responses positive and upbeat.
Be open to all offers and try to find a way to make it work!
Above all, remember that summer sales ARE possible! People
need to move at all times of the year!
If you have come to the decision that it is time to move right now to have a better life. If you are juggling too many responsibilities to sell your house yourself this summer, then there are people who specialize in the sale of properties "as is" - usually within a week to resolve the situation quickly. Contact me for details.
Next time we will take a closer look at curb appeal for the summer months.
So thanks for reading my post. I'm so glad you're here!
And I really look forward to getting into more great stuff in future posts -- so that you can
Turn Your House To $OLD!
Feel free to ask me any questions through the contact info below. I would be very happy to help.
