Spring is the start of the surge in real estate market listings. Is your home ready to show? Or if you are a real estate agent, are your customers' homes ready to be showcased? Here is my Spring Home Staging Checklist that can assist you with all of the prep work needed for a successful listing:
More...
There's a reason you see all of the lawn care company trucks whizzing by this time of year. At the start of the Spring growing season, the earlier you start on your yard, the better your yard and garden will look when the peak of the season has arrived. So my Spring Home staging outdoor checklist includes the following activities:
One of the biggest eyesores of a home for sale is dandelions and other weeds in the yard. Homeowners want to move in and have a beautifully-maintained yard. So trust me and take the time to pay for a lawn care service for the season. You can buy the fertilizer yourself or pay a lawn care company month-to-month if needed (although pre-paying will save you a little). As your home staging resource, I can help you find a local professional to do this work, or contact a pro source like Angie's List.
A fresh layer of mulch will keep weeds at bay and give your landscaping a fresh look before listing. Planting some annual flowers will give your yard some color and interest.
No green thumb needed here. Just a few hours and some gardening supplies. A fresh landscaping bed looks so inviting and clean. Once you've pulled the weeds (a day after a rainstorm is the best time), lay down some mulch to prevent further weeds from creeping in. Again, a local lawn care company can help with this if you're not so inclined to do it yourself. I'm happy to connect you with one in the Indianapolis area.
Take a street-level view of your home's exterior. Where could it use some cleaning? A few common activities include power-washing the siding, front porch and driveway. Don't forget about the backyard and decks or patios! Sometimes a broom or blower will do the trick, as will a bucket with soapy water and a hose. Many cleaning companies will also do exterior cleaning, especially windows, which are great to clean at least once yearly.
Moving onto the front porch or door of your home, you can do a few things to spruce up this area too. Continuing with my Spring home staging checklist we have the following:
Welcome your prospective buyers with a colorful, Spring wreath or door decoration. Find these at a local home store or make one yourself with faux florals and a wire frame. Also, throw away that old, dirty floor mat and welcome a new one.
Flank either side of your front door with a few potted plants in Spring colors and greenery. You can pick these up at your local garden center.
If your home has a large porch, patio or deck, set up small, cozy seating areas with outdoor furnishings, throw pillows and accessories so that home buyers can visualize enjoying these spaces.
A simple plant, area rug and furniture can create a welcoming seating area and outdoor space.
Even without a major home renovation or redesign, there are plenty of things you can do inside your home to ready it for a listing. Here is my list of indoor tasks to make sure to do before listing your home:
Opening the blinds can make a big impression. Simply by letting in natural light into a space, it can make it feel bigger and brighter to a potential home buyer.
A fresh bouquet can freshen up a home before listing and adds an elegant touch.
I hope this Spring home staging checklist has helped you prepare your home to sell for above asking price this season. Finally, let me know how I can help you stage a home in the Indianapolis area, or check out my virtual home staging services if you are outside the Indy area and in need of home staging. Know someone selling their home? Please feel free to share this post with them or on social media.
Sign up for the Color Joy bi-weekly e-newsletter, and as a BONUS, you'll receive our special E-Report: Finding Your Interior Color Personality. Learn the psychology of the colors you choose for your home, and get inspired TODAY to start using your favorite colors in your home or office.
Susan is a Midwest mom of two and lover of all things colorful in the home. She works with homeowners to find their unique style and color palette while keeping their budgets and lifestyles in mind. You can find her hanging out on Instagram at @colorjoyinteriors or Twitter @getcolorjoy, where she shares her latest colorful projects and inspirations.
Session expired
Please log in again. The login page will open in a new tab. After logging in you can close it and return to this page.