Spring is often a time for homeowners to knock off items on ever-expanding to-do lists, such as cleaning out the garage or putting mulch down in the yard. Maybe you get everything done, or maybe you put some things off until next year. When you’re listing your home, however, it’s a time kick your Spring-cleaning routine into high gear. It’s no longer about what you can live with; it’s about what your home’s new owners can live with, and better yet, what they’ll actually pay to live with. Here are a few tips for preparing your home for the housing market this Spring.
 
Making Repairs

If you know your hot water heater is about two faucet turns from biting the dust, or your sliding glass door doesn’t lock anymore, go ahead and make these repairs or find replacements if necessary. Many homeowners will be asked to make repairs following an inspection once an offer has been accepted. It’s best to eliminate as many surprises beforehand in hopes you won’t be caught off guard later. That doesn’t necessarily mean you need to do anything expensive, like remodel your kitchen or purchase a new roof. Preparing to buy your next home is a huge part of selling your current home, and running up a huge credit card bill won’t help you qualify for a new mortgage. 
 
De-Clutter

Removing cramped furniture and accessories can completely transform the look and feel of a room. Not only are you opening up the space, you’re helping the buyer envision how their items would look in your home. Have a yard sale to bring in a few extra bucks and get rid of things you no longer need. Renting a storage container temporarily while your house is on the market is also a great solution if you can’t part with some items.
 
Spruce Up Your Yard

Trimming bushes and trees, planting flowers and putting down fresh pine straw or mulch can go a long way. Make sure to clear out any clutter as well, such as that old patio furniture or camping tent you’ve secretly tucked away behind your front gate. If you’ve never had much luck growing grass, perhaps it’s time to consider putting down sod.
 
Invest in New Fixtures

Is your home sporting 90’s-style brass doorknobs and light fixtures? Unless you own a historic home with original, antique faucets and doorknobs, we suggest upgrading old fixtures. This is a simple, relatively affordable change you can make that is likely to make a huge impression on potential buyers.
 
Clean, Clean and Clean Some More

You may consider your home a relatively clean space, but how often do you dust the tops of your ceiling fans? Or clean your windows inside and out? What about the insides of your cabinets—when is the last you’ve wiped them out? Before putting your home up for sale, take the extra time to clean every square inch of your home. I can assure you it’s worth it. You may even discover something new about your home, like the fact that your sink is actually white—not that dingy beige color. Who knew?
 
These simple changes can help you get your highest quantity of offers, and at the highest price available in the marketplace. Though parting with your home and its history can be an emotional process, it’s also one of most significant transactions you’ll make in your lifetime. That’s why more Wilmington home sellers turn to the experienced team at Network than any other Realtor. We’ve been in the business over 30 years. We’re savvy. In-the-know. And we’ll steer your home sale process smoothly from listing to closing, so that you can pass the keys to the new owner as seamlessly as possible. 
 
Kevin McKoy is a GRI-certified, licensed real estate broker at Network Real Estate, which has exclusively served a high volume of property sales and purchases in the greater Wilmington area for over 30 years. With three offices at College Road, Historic Downtown and Pleasure Island, Network’s brokers are widespread and well-versed in this marketplace, making Network a preferred Real Estate company for first-home buyers and beyond.