As we enter the
sweltering days of summer,
home- buyers' thoughts will
naturally turn to patios,
decks, landscaping, air
conditioning, and in some
cases, pools. So if your
home is on the market,
you'll want to make sure
your house is in top order
and summer-friendly.
July and August are
traditionally busy months
because many families want
to get moved during their
children's summer vacations
and get them acclimated
before the new school year
begins. That means if you're
selling your home this
summer, you'll likely have
more competition as more of
your neighbors put their
homes on the market, too.
But the good news is
that this summer in
particular should be a good
time to sell. The pace of
home sales - propelled by
stable interest rates, a
solid economy and improving
job outlook - is expected to
stay steady through the rest
of the year.
"The momentum of sales
will push us into another
annual record, even with a
somewhat lower pace of home
sales activity going
forward," said David Lereah,
chief economist for National
Association of Realtors.
As you set out to put
your home on the market and
add your home sale to this
summer's statistics, keep
the following summer tips in
mind:
Curb appeal. This is
arguably more important in
the spring and summer than
any other time of year. With
sunny days, everything will
be on display. Your shrubs
and perennials will be in
full bloom. Your deciduous
trees will be fully leaved.
Be sure your lawn is mowed
and is lush and green. Make
sure your door area is clear
from bicycles and toys.
Air conditioning. First,
be sure it's in proper
working order. Try to have
your system inspected before
you put your house on the
market and make sure it's
working properly. Second, be
sure you turn it on during
those days that you're away
at work and potential buyers
|
 |
|
|
will be looking at your
house. Nothing will turn
buyers off more than
entering a stuffy, hot house
on a 90-degree day.
Back yard. Buyers will
be paying extra attention to
the back yard while house
hunting during the summer
months. They'll be
envisioning an area for
barbecues and space for
children to play. If you're
selling your house in a
neighborhood with a lot of
young children, set up a
swing set or place a sandbox
in back. Make the back yard
look as child-friendly as
possible so potential buyers
can envision what the space
will look like for their own
children.
Patio. Likewise, make
sure your patio area is
inviting and attractive.
Clean your patio furniture
and arrange it keeping the
views from indoors in mind.
Spruce up the area with a
few container plantings.
Back yard landscaping.
If you have lawn area in
your back yard, make sure it
is mowed and healthy. Keep
shrubs and plants pruned and
tidy. Lay some fresh ground
cover and plant a few
colorful annuals.
Windows. Make sure your
windows are sparkling clean,
especially if you live in a
sunny region that doesn't
get much summer rain.
Walls. If you're
thinking about touching up
the paint on your walls
before you put your home on
the market, keep the colors
neutral and light. A light
yellow or beige will make
the room feel cooler than a
brick red or dark taupe.
Let the light in. Open
blinds and curtains so
plenty of light illuminates
the home's interior.
Pool. If you have a pool
or spa, make sure they are
clean. If you have a fence,
make sure locks and latches
are working properly.
And, just like any
other time of year, get rid
of the clutter throughout
your house.
|
