Spring: when flowers bloom and the housing market booms.

Guest Post: Jean Summers | LawnStarter

A wave of home hunters rushes into a pool of hopeful sellers. In many markets, that means stiff competition to find a buyer. Having an edge will give you an upper hand. Here are four tips for selling you Portland home in spring:

1. Do a Deep Cleaning

Consider doing a spring cleaning on steroids, and maybe even bringing in backup for assistance. Buyers often base their decisions on the condition of a home’s floors. If your carpet has stains, rent a carpet-cleaning machine or have a professional carpet cleaner do the job for you. For hardwoods, a refinishing product can make a tremendous difference. Floors in the bathrooms and kitchens need to be spotless.

Kitchens and bathrooms tend to receive more scrutiny than other rooms in the house. Take time to remove any clutter and to bleach out any stains in light-colored tile grout. Countertops and backsplashes should sparkle, and any objects on the countertops should be shiny clean, too. Re-caulk tubs, showers and sinks, and polish all your faucets and fixtures. Make sure appliances are fresh and clean-looking and hang fresh hand towels near all your sinks. Don’t forget to keep your toilet lids closed.

Don’t wait until the scheduled showing to clean. Your home should sparkle when the photographer comes to take the listing photos. Those photos are crucial for getting prospective buyers to your doorstep. According to one study by the National Association of Realtors, 90 percent of buyers scroll through hundreds of listing photos, so yours had better stand out.

Take care to keep your house smelling fresh as a daisy. If you are still occupying the house, take care not to cook anything with a strong smell the day before a showing. (Though it’s a good idea to bake cookies the day of a showing.) Banish dog beds and litter boxes to the garage, and consider using some high-end scented candles to give your house a pleasant fragrance.

 

2. Take on Repairs

Take care of any repairs that will turn up in the inspection and deter buyers. When in doubt, consult with your real estate agent. Take care of any cracked tiles, holes in walls, drawers that stick, spent light bulbs and leaky faucets. Upgrade your outside lights to make sure they’re modern and matching.

Be prepared to make larger structural-type repairs before you list your home. The lack of big repairs in the inspection will help your home sell more quickly.

 

3. Make Upgrades That Matter

Focus on making improvements that will give you a return on your investment. Kitchens and bathrooms carry the highest return, but some buyers may prefer to upgrade these to their own tastes. If your bathrooms and kitchen are in good shape already, don’t forget that small upgrades can make a big impact, too.

Light fixtures, cabinet knobs, drawer pulls, showerheads and faucets can all radically change the look and feel of an area in a home. Replace worn carpeting, repaint dark or stained walls with light, neutral tones, and remove old, worn window coverings.

 

4. Boost Curb Appeal

All the interior focus in the world won’t make any difference if the first impression isn’t stellar. Your windows should be clean, inside and out, and sidewalks and the exterior will benefit greatly from a power-washing. Research shows that the quality and sophistication of landscaping has a dramatic effect on the value of a home.

Keep the lawn mowed and weeded and seed any bare spots. clear any clutter, and make sure your beds are freshly-mulched. Planting some bright, cheerful spring blooms won’t hurt. Improving your overall curb appeal can pay off handsomely.

If your Portland home is going on the market this spring, never fear! Just take your time to put its best face forward, follow these tips, and wait for the offers to come in.

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Jean Summers owns a flower shop and sprinkler company. She’s as handy with power tools as she is a pen. She writes how-to manuals in her spare time, hoping to teach women how to install and repair their own irrigation systems.

About LawnStarter – LawnStarter brings you the best lawn services, all at the click of a button. Within seconds, you can book skilled landscapers who have years of experience dealing with grass, weeds, pests, flowerbeds and anything else in your yard.

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Virtuance Expert Tip: Further prepare to sell your Portland home with professional real estate photography. Why do professional real estate images matter? Take a look at this article: www.virtuance.com/blog/use-professional-real-estate-photos/

If you already have a shoot scheduled, here’s a handy checklist to help prepare your home.