Selling in a warmer climate has both its advantages and its pitfalls. The year-round warmer weather, for example, means you’ve got a longer selling season than in colder climates where home sales dip in the winter, for example. However, the warmer temperatures make do have their downfalls.
Here are 5 things to watch out for when selling in a warmer climate such as Martinsburg and Hagerstown.
THERMOSTAT TEMPERATURE
Potential buyers want to be cool and comfortable when they walk into your home, not sweaty and hot. To help them achieve this, make sure the thermostat is set at a comfortable temperature, even one that’s cooler than you normally keep the home, during showings.
Turn on fans throughout the home to circulate the air, but make sure the fans are quiet enough they won’t disrupt the experience. If you have fans in outdoor spaces, such as on porches, turn them on as well.
Just be careful not to set the thermostat at too low a temperature that guests shiver through the showing.
ROOF CONDITION
Your home’s roof is an important piece in keeping your home cool and your energy bills lower – and an important consideration for selling in a warmer climate such as Martinsburg and Hagerstown. If your roof is in disrepair, too dark in color, or lacks sufficient insulation, it could spell bad news for your home’s chances of selling.
Before you list your home, have a roof inspector thoroughly check over your roof and make any recommended repairs. In some cases, this may mean a full-scale replacement.
While this seems like a huge expense to take on right before you sell, it will easily become a selling point and you may be able to recoup your costs with a higher selling price.
VENTILATION
The ability of air to circulate throughout your living space is a crucial part of keeping things cool and comfortable without forcing your air conditioning to run all the time. Without good ventilation, your air conditioner has to work harder to maintain a consistently comfortable temperature in all rooms, driving up your energy costs and increasing the frequency of repairs and replacements.
If your home has an open floor plan, this airflow should happen fairly naturally. If it doesn’t have an open floor plan, you may need to consider adding additional ductwork and vents so that air can travel more readily from one space to the next.
GOOD WINDOWS
Like your roof, your home’s windows are an important factor in your home’s energy efficiency and comfort. Damaged, leaky windows cause you to lose air to the outside, meaning your air conditioner has to work harder to produce the same indoor temperature.
If you can feel air flow around your windows, consider caulking around them to seal any gaps. If you notice that your window panes are foggy, you may need to replace the window entirely.
As with your roof, replacing windows right before you sell may seem a pricey venture, but it’s often less stressful – and can be less expensive – if you fix them before you list than after an inspector finds an issue and brings it up to a buyer.
ADD WATER
Bubbling water can give potential buyers a cool, calm feeling even when it’s blistering hot outside.
If you’ve got the outdoor space, consider adding a small fountain or other water feature to your front or backyard. This will add some extra curb appeal as well as being a fun attraction for buyers. Even if the feature is temporary, it can give a buyer a boosted impression of your home and may help it move to the top of their priority list.