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The spring selling season is here, traditionally the busiest season of the year for real estate transactions. And happily this spring—for the first time in a few years—our property markets are not being impacted by any pandemic-related lockdowns or restrictions, making everything much easier for buyers and sellers alike.

As a result, we can expect to see lots of buyers out in force and competition aplenty from other sellers this year, meaning the way your property is presented is going to be critical to drumming up buyer interest and selling it quickly for a higher price.

The way your property appears from the outside is just as important as its interior appearance, so here’s everything you need to know to ensure your home’s exterior helps it stand out from the competition this spring.

Curate your curb appeal

When it comes to buying property, for many people their first impressions of a home count for a lot. Many potential buyers will ‘drive by’ properties on their shortlist ahead of the inspection to see how they look from the outside, so maximising your home’s ‘curb appeal’ is essential to help it appeal to as many buyers as possible.

To make your property appear at its best and show you care about the entire home spend time making sure the exterior is as clean as possible—washing down paintwork, dusting off cobwebs and polishing window panes.

Use a pressure washer to hose down driveways and garden paths, using a degreasing product to remove any oil stains. Consider investing in professional house washing if you’re time-poor and the budget will stretch to it.

Now cast a critical eye over any fences, gates, walls, front door and surrounding architrave, window sills, the letterbox etc. Could they benefit from a lick of paint or varnish? A fresh coat of paint or stain can go a long way to creating a strong first impression, especially if you opt for an eye-catching (but not garish) colour.

Pay particular attention to the front door area—the first area buyers will see—ensuring it is spick and span. If it’s looking a bit tired, try sprucing things up with fresh paint, new house numbers, attractively potted plants, outdoor light fixtures, or even a new doormat.

Other simple ways to boost curb appeal include:

• Ensure your property’s number is easily visible from the street
• Check outside light bulbs are working
• For a pop of colour, plant spring flowers in your front garden or in attractive pots beside the front door
• Hide garbage bins and garden tools out of sight
• Get rid of any shabby-looking items such as old outdoor furniture or children’s equipment
• Ensure any remaining furniture or play equipment is clean and tidy
• If you have pets hide their food bowls and toys and check they haven’t left any ‘nasty surprises’ anywhere!

Get stuck into the garden

After all the rain some parts of the country have had so far this year, you may be looking at a more overgrown garden than usual this spring, along with mouldy pavers in some of its more shaded areas.

You don’t necessarily need to bring in a landscaping company, but with a neat, tidy and well-kept garden a big drawcard for buyers, do allow plenty of time to give your garden a thorough going over. If you are short on time or not especially green-thumbed, then find a local gardener to help.

Here are some simple ways to get your garden ready for a spring sale:  

• Rake and sweep up debris, prune everything back, deadhead plants and thoroughly weed all garden beds
• Mulching garden beds can make a big visual impact while reducing the need for ongoing weeding (also a drawcard for buyers)
• Garden looking a bit meh? Consider introducing some colour with flowering plants - be sure to water and fertilise regularly to ensure good growth
• Cut back branches or bushes that are overgrown, especially any that obscure windows or block pathways etc
• Mow the lawn and keep it mowed throughout the sale campaign - including the nature strip in front of your home if you have one
• Trim lawn edges and fix any unsightly lawn patches by seeding and fertilising
• Water regularly to keep everything looking as verdant as possible

De-green your gutters

It’s wonderful living surrounded by greenery in the form of trees, apart from when it comes to their leaves piling up in your home’s gutters and drains. Rooflines overflowing with tree debris give the impression that the home isn’t cared for and scream high maintenance, which can be an instant red flag for buyers.

If clambering up ladders and balancing on roofs to clear leaves isn’t an option for you, then this is definitely a job to outsource to a professional. 

Prepare the pool

Clean and well-maintained exterior areas indicate a loved and looked-after property, and this is particularly true when it comes to swimming pools.

If you live near trees then you know all too well how leaves are drawn to water, along with all manner of outdoor debris and insects. Ahead of the inspection, make sure you’ve given the pool a thorough clean inside and outside, employing the proper equipment and chemicals to get the water crystal clear and sparkling for the opens.

Remember to check which laws apply in your state when selling a property with a pool. Generally you will need to register your pool and have it inspected for compliance, with the compliance (or non-compliance) certificate included in the contract for sale.

Finally…

The best way to prepare for a sale in spring, or any other time of the year, is using a seasoned real estate agent. Our agents can advise how best to prepare your property, recommend the most effective marketing strategies for your home, as well as being able to connect you with a large network of potential buyers locally, nationally and internationally.

Find a Belle Property agent near you.