Traditionally in most areas, spring has been the best time to list a house, with fall coming in a close second. But, of course, not everyone is granted the luxury of being able to wait till the optimal time to sell their home. Still, with the right mindset and some careful preparation, you can sell your house this summer. So here are the 6 things you need to do to sell your house this summer in Martinsburg, Hagerstown, Frederick & Charles Town .
1. Understand Why Summer Isn’t the Best Time (And Adjust Accordingly)
As we just indicated, summer really isn’t the very best time to list your house. So understanding why and making the necessary and appropriate adjustments are key to selling your Martinsburg, Hagerstown, Frederick & Charles Town house this summer.
At first glance, summer would seem to be the best time to sell your home because days are longer, kids are out of school, and people have vacation time. But those are really the very things that work against you because they all mean that people are busiest during the summertime – taking care of kids, going on vacation, and participating in all those summer activities.
What this means is that during the summer you will have to adjust your mindset (especially with respect to how long a sale will take), prepare more thoroughly, and be more flexible. When it comes to showings, you will likely have to be more willing to accommodate buyers’ needs and whimsies. “Some people like to skip out of work early due to daylight savings in many states. You might find buyers are more interested in touring your home during twilight hours, just after the dinner hour.”
2. Make Needed Repairs
As with any real estate sale at any time of the year, you will need to make needed repairs as soon as possible. It’s just that it becomes more critical when you need to sell your house this summer in Martinsburg, Hagerstown, Frederick & Charles Town . Begin with the necessary and most obvious repairs and then move to the less urgent, less observable problems.
The chief benefits, according to the pros, of doing such repairs early are as follows: “First and foremost, it’ll prevent potential buyers from being distracted as they tour your home. Instead of making a mental list of what needs to be fixed, they’ll be able to focus on your home’s positive qualities. You’ll also save time (and money) later by avoiding back-and-forth negotiations over minor repair issues. And doing the repairs yourself, ahead of time, saves you from having to foot the bill for the estimated, and often over-inflated, cost of repairs!”
3. De-Clutter Ruthlessly
Similarly, in order to sell your Martinsburg, Hagerstown, Frederick & Charles Town house this summer, you will have to declutter early and with a vengeance. Consider every item in your home. Do you need it, or can you get rid of it?
At a time of the year when so many people are spending so much time outdoors, open living space becomes even more appealing to buyers, They want a home with a breathable, expansive feel to it. But that won’t be the case if it’s cluttered up with all your non-necessary belongings.
4. Double Down on Curb Appeal
Curb appeal is always important, but it is absolutely critical during the summer. You don’t want to blow your one and only chance to make a great first impression.
Besides the standard aspects of enhancing curb appeal – exterior painting, roof and fence repair, weeding and mulching beds, and so on – experts also recommend giving the following special attention:
- Mowing the lawn twice a week and mowing diagonally “to add dimension and curb appeal”
- Doing small but noticeable things, such as planting new flowers and repainting the house numbers on the curb
- Decorating with colorful summer accents for a warm, inviting atmosphere
5. Depersonalize and Depolarize
Another very important element of preparing to sell your house this summer in Martinsburg, Hagerstown, Frederick & Charles Town involves depersonalizing and depolarizing. When you depersonalize, you remove from your home everything that marks it a peculiarly yours. Typically this means taking down family photos, putting away quirky knick-knacks, and removing family heirlooms and personal mementos. You want buyers to be able to envision your house as their home.
Similarly, you don’t want anything controversial on display in order to avoid any and all polarizing situations. Depolarizing, then, “translates primarily to [removing] anything religious or political. Many people have strong emotional reactions to these types of items. Don’t give your buyer a chance to prejudge your home because of your political or religious beliefs.”
6. Use a Local Agent
Probably the first thing you should do to sell your house this summer in Martinsburg, Hagerstown, Frederick & Charles Town is to hire an experienced local real estate agent. No one knows the local market and its peculiar demands like a local agent. Your local agent can provide the expertise needed to sell your house during the less-than-optimal summer months.