Summer can be a great time to sell a house fast. Good weather puts everyone in a better mood and helps properties feel brighter and more airy, gardens are full of colour, and lighter, brighter evenings offer more opportunity for mid-week property viewings.
If you’re hoping to secure a quick house sale this summer, our top tips will help you think about how you can make the most of your property and beat the competition to bag a buyer.
Love your garden!
Summer is the time to really make the most of any outdoor space you have, especially when it comes to selling a property. If your outdoor space is limited, concentrate on giving it purpose; a balcony or small courtyard garden can be brought to life with a smart little seating area. Don’t over clutter, as this will make the space feel smaller, but choose stylish accessories that will show potential buyers how the space can be used to its full potential. Garden lighting is also key, whatever the size of your outdoor space; it can make a small garden feel like a private wonderland, and ‘zone’ a larger garden into different areas.
Know your buyer
This is where your estate agent should really prove their worth. A good estate agent should be able to give you a clear idea of who your potential buyers are, how many of these target buyers are currently looking for a new property, and property areas and features they’re particularly interested in. This level of information is invaluable in helping you to sell your property. If your agent tells you that your property is most likely to appeal to a young family, instead of desperately trying to hide all signs of children’s toys, you can make a feature of them by highlighting a space in the property (perhaps a spare room?) that would work well as a play room/area. Family buyers want to see how the space would work for them as a family. Similarly, if your agent suggests that your property is more likely to appeal to professionals, you may wish to highlight any area that would work as a home office? This needn’t be a full room; home offices can be found on landings and even under the stairs!
Bring the outdoor, indoors
There’s a growing trend to blur the lines between ‘indoors’ and ‘outdoors’. This can be witnessed in the increased popularity of bi-folding doors, glass walls and garden rooms, and selling a property is a great opportunity to play around with this trend. Of course, we’re not suggesting that you should undertake an extension or replace your patio doors in order to achieve a quick house sale, but there are other ways you can play around with this idea. Try introducing some natural summer shades to your property, either with the use of paint or accessories, choose candles with natural summery scents over chemical air fresheners, and use seasonal wild flowers to add a touch of nature to bedrooms and living spaces.
Deep clean
More sunlight helps to make homes feel lighter and brighter in the summer months, but it is not at all forgiving to dust! Before you put your property on the market it’s advisable to undertake a thorough ‘deep clean’ and keep on top of upkeep whilst the property’s on the market to avoid embarrassing dust disasters.
Windows, windows, windows
It’s important to keep your windows sparkling when trying to sell your house. Clean windows will let more light into the property, helping it to feeling bigger and brighter, but beware, sunny days can be a nightmare for showing up any streaks on your windows! For streak-free windows without the use of harsh chemicals try a homemade window cleaning solution of 1 part white vinegar with 1 part warm water.
Bathrooms and kitchens sell houses
Any estate agent will tell you that bathrooms and kitchens sell houses. If your bathroom or kitchen are not exactly in show-home condition, don’t panic. Potential buyers will have very different tastes; some might like farmhouse chic, others will prefer sleek and modern, but one thing they will all be united on is wanting your bathroom and kitchen to feel clean and cared for, whatever the style. There are a few inexpensive steps you can take to help get your bathroom and kitchen ready for house viewings, including replacing any chipped or damaged tiles, re-grouting, de-scaling and freshening up any tired paint. If you have any extra available time while preparing your house for sale, spend them in your kitchen and bathroom for maximum impact.
First impressions are lasting impressions
Think about how inviting the front of your property is. Summer is a great time to add some more plant life and exterior accessories that can really bring a property to life. It’s also important to stay on top of any gardening at the front of your property and ensure it’s looking its best at all times. Many potential buyers choose to do a ‘drive-by’ viewing before booking an official appointment, so if you don’t want to lose out on potential buyers it’s important to make sure your property is ready for opportunistic external viewings at any time.