Spring into action for Spring Sale

Spring has come early for home sellers.  After the traditional winter lull in the property market, Spring is the peak season for homes being placed on the market.  This year, with property prices falling and housing supply outweighing demand, it is important for home sellers to spring into action and maximise exposure to their property by putting it on the market as soon as they can.  Spring cleaning and de-cluttering will also allow property owners to show their property at it's best.

Sellityourself.ie recommends the following Spring Action Plan:

Clear - Clean - Correct - Complement

Clear
Take a look at each room in your house - try and picture it through a buyers eyes.  Is there a lot of clutter in the room?  Is there too much furniture in the room?  Rooms will appear larger if they are not overly cluttered with ornaments, furniture, bookshelves, etc.  Unwanted clutter can be recycled and sentimental clutter should be boxed for storage.  Clear all surfaces.  Clear away the countertops in your kitchen, remove unnecessary items from the bathroom, the office desk, bedside lockers, etc.  Once the clutter has been cleared, replace it with one or two decorative items e.g. photo frames, vases, plants.

Clean
Clean your house thoroughly - nothing puts a buyer off more than dirt.  Thoroughly clean baths, toilets, showers, all kitchen surfaces, floors, windows and doors.  If you haven't time (or ability!) to do this yourself, pay someone to do it.  Consult the classified ads for cleaning services, or use the services of an agency. 

Once the house has been thoroughly cleaned, do your best to maintain it for as long as your house is on the market.  It is a good idea to set aside one morning or afternoon a week to do all the cleaning jobs that are required.  You can then try and schedule your weekly viewings to fit in with your cleaning schedule.  (Property sellers who use estate agents don't have this flexibility - their home must be ready for viewing at all times)

Correct
Correct and repair anything that needs fixing - first impressions are vital.  This means fixing broken door handles, taps, curtain rails etc.

Complement
Finally, revisit each room to see what can be done to enhance and complement the room.  Do the walls need to be repainted?  Rooms painted in neutral colours will appear bigger, and will allow buyers to visualise that room in their own style.  New bed linen or new curtains can make a huge difference and can help modernise a house.  Scatter cushions, throws and plants will complement any room and are inexpensive ways of adding that final touch.

Happy with the results?  Not finished just yet!  Now take a look at the outside of your property and apply the same action plan.  Clear all unnecessary objects, toys, etc from the garden.  Clear weeds from gravel areas and flowerbeds.  Clear any compost or rubbish heaps.  Clean down walls, decks, patios and pavements (with a powerhouse where possible). Correct anything that's broken - e.g. replace broken flower pots, fix broken decking rails or garden gates.  And finally complement your garden, patio or deck with planted containers (or do some spring planting if sufficiently green-fingered).

After completing this Spring Action Plan, your house will be ready for viewing and your hard work should lead to a quicker sale.  That is if you still wish to sell ... :-)