Summer Home-Selling Maintenance Checklist: 15 Expert Tips

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SOURCE: Homelight
Yikes… it was a rough winter, and maybe the spring-cleaning memo got lost in your inbox. Now it’s time to put your home on the market, but if you leave it unmaintained and unkempt, you’ll never impress potential buyers. You need a summer home-selling maintenance checklist.

So, where should you start?

We interviewed some of the top real estate agents about what buyers look for when they’re shopping for homes and found out everything we could about how to whip your home back into shape this summer.

Your 15-point summer home-selling maintenance checklist

We asked top agents what sellers should do to prepare their house for resale and studied market research to conclude what projects will provide the highest return on investment if you’re planning to sell your home this summer or fall.

Consistently, the top real estate agents recommended the following 15 simple home maintenance tasks:

 Pressure wash the outside of the home.
 Landscape, landscape, landscape!
 Put on a fresh coat of paint around the outside of the house.
 Upgrade or refresh siding and shutters.
 Trim anything that’s overgrown.
 Kill the bugs.
 Clean and fix up your gutters.
 Fix up your fence.
 Keep your trees in check.
 Stage your outdoor furniture.
 Add beautiful plants and flowers.
 Paint the walls inside your house a warm neutral color.
 Bring in the natural light.
 Replace any tarnished hardware (or polish it.)
 Walk around and do some quick touch up home improvements.

Let’s dig into each item on your summer home maintenance checklist:

1. Pressure wash the outside of the home.

The first thing buyers notice is the exterior of a house. In a recent HomeLight survey of more than 1,000 top real estate agents, 39% of agents say a lack of curb appeal is a pitfall for overconfident sellers in today’s shifting housing market. A murky walkway could send buyers running for the hills before they even get to the front door.

“If the driveway is stained or the decks in the backyard, pressure washing is not that expensive and it’ll give it a really fresh look,” says Carol Wolfe, a top-performing real estate agent in Los Angeles with nearly 50 years of experience. Rent a pressure washer at your local home improvement store to make walkways, patios, decks, and driveways look brand new.

2. Landscape, landscape, landscape!

Proper landscaping is a major factor in considering a home’s curb appeal. It’s one of the first things potential buyers see and could add 5 to 12% to your home’s overall value, according to studies conducted by Better Homes and Gardens. An earlier HomeLight top agent survey found that spending under $300 on lawn care services can yield a 352% ROI.

While it’s important to create beautiful landscaping to complement the home, it’s also crucial not to overdo it.

“I tell sellers the same thing every time I meet with them. We’re trying to go for clean, neutral, and fresh,” says Brendan Bartic, a Denver agent who works with nearly 70% more single-family homes than the average agent in his market. He adds, “What we’re trying to do is make a clear, neutral landscape so the home will appeal to anybody from the outside and make them feel like they can make it what they want,” also noting that 99% of the time, he’ll have them replace the welcome mat as well.

3. Put a fresh coat of paint on the outside of the house.

Chipped paint on the exterior of the home is an instant red flag for buyers, going back to the above-mentioned importance of curb appeal.

“When they walk through the front door, what can never have entered their mind is, O-M-G. I wonder what else is wrong with this house,” says Peter G. Clark, a Certified Luxury Homes Marketing Specialist in Portland.

Hiring a professional to repaint your home could cost anywhere from $1,811 to $13,000, depending on the number of stories and square footage. Other variables like the type of siding and quality of paint can affect the cost as well. According to HomeAdvisor, the current average cost is $3,087 to paint the exterior of a 1,500-square-foot home. Some things you can control, though, are the type and color of the paint. Be sure to choose a color that will sell your home.

Also, consider paints that will provide durability and resistance in order to maintain the exterior quality, without exceeding your budget.

4. Upgrade or refresh siding and shutters.

The exterior of your home is the first thing buyers see. Some buyers will make their decision immediately based on the curb appeal, before even stepping foot inside. Replace any weathering siding or brighten up shutters to get buyers through the door.

According to a 2022 Remodeling Impact Report by the National Association of Realtors, upgrading siding and adding new shutters to your home can recoup up to 82% of the cost at resale.

5. Trim anything that’s overgrown.

Nothing says, “Stay away from me,” like out of control vines and weeds. Cut down the overgrown jungle in the untouched area of your yard to show exactly how much outdoor space you’re selling. With a few basic yard tools, you can make your yard look fresh from the grass to the trees. Take on the challenge yourself, or for yards that are too out of control, consult a professional.

6. Kill the bugs.

Buyers look for homes that have yards they’ll want to spend time in. If they step into a yard that is swarming with bugs, they’ll lose interest in the home. Even if you are not selling your house right now, vector-borne illnesses can be carried by mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. So, stop those blood-sucking bugs from being money-suckers as well!

To maintain a yard that will sell in warm, moist climates, control the growth of bugs that peak in population during summer months. A quick spritz of outdoor bug spray around your yard will keep buyers from running for cover.

7. Clean up and fix your gutters.

Gutters can trap dirt, leaves, twigs, and water during a storm or heavy rain. There may even be some critters hanging out in your gutters—and those definitely don’t come with the house! Get a ladder and carefully clean out your gutters to avoid issues with drainage in the future. You’ll need a sturdy ladder, outdoor garden gloves, and a hose.

Carefully climb up to the gutters and remove the cover.
Use a tool or your hands to scoop out debris.
Flush the gutter with water and check for any leaks.
Locate the drainage spouts to make sure the gutter isn’t clogged.
Remove clogs by sticking the hose up the spout until the clog loosens.
Make sure all gutters are attached tightly.

If you notice a leak in your gutters, contact a professional.

8. Fix up your fence.

Buyers with kids and pets don’t want to take on the extra expenses of adding or replacing a fence, so a beat up fence could turn them away. Check your fence for any holes, potential rotting, or insect damage. Fix any loose screws or nails in need of replacement. A coat of stain or paint will make a fence look top-of-the-line.

9. Keep your trees in check.

With a backyard full of trees, it’s important to consider removing overgrown branches or cutting down trees completely. Take a good look at each tree. If you notice mushrooms or any other fungi growing on the trunk, it could be a sign that the tree is decaying. If branches fall off a tree in a storm, it could mean a bigger problem as well. Get in touch with a local arborist to have your trees inspected if you suspect a problem. Remember these things when speaking to a tree expert:

  • Get an estimate first.

  • Always get a second opinion, especially if their price is out of your budget.

  • Ask what the price would be during the offseason. Most people hire tree professionals between the months of May and October, so if you aren’t planning on listing your house until next spring, consider saving money by taking care of trees in the winter instead.

  • Ask each tree expert if they are certified. Don’t hire them if they aren’t.

  • Don’t let someone “top” your tree. It’s no longer considered acceptable tree care as it damages the tree and could become dangerous in the future.

10. Stage your outdoor furniture.

According to a 2022 TurfMutt Foundation survey, 76% of Americans say a spacious yard is one of the most important parts of their home, and 72% say backyard space is at the top of their wish list if they start looking to buy a new home.

“Demand for more elaborate exterior space continues to rise and blending indoor-outdoor living to address customer preferences is critical to our success,” says Sheryl Palmer, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Taylor Morrison, a leading national home builder and developer.

So, throw out the rusty patio chairs you’ve had since you moved in and take a quick trip to Home Depot to transform your patio or deck. Incorporate simple furniture and fun decorations to create a comfy outdoor living area that buyers love. Potted plants placed throughout will create the perfect sanctuary for friends and families to gather, showing buyers that your house is a perfect home for gatherings.

“If you don’t have pads, get colorful pads to put on the patio furniture. Clean everything off,” says Wolfe. “Sometimes, as part of staging, we’ll have the patio table set with colorful serving pieces and dishes for a summer party so people can envision enjoying themselves in the summer in their new house.”

11. Add beautiful plants and flowers.

Plants are a fun backyard element that will attract buyers with a love for nature. Add colorful, full-grown plants to create completeness that buyers will love. This is an easy task that brightens up a yard and doesn’t require a professional, according to Wolfe. “You can go to any local nursery or Home Depot or Target and buy pots. This is the time of year you’re going to find things like already planted flowers,” she says.

Here are some “can’t-kill” flowers that are sure to be lively and lovely in a garden or outdoor pots:

  • Sunflowers

  • Zinnias

  • Marigolds

  • Snapdragons (These attract butterflies!)

  • Daffodils

  • Geraniums

12. Paint the walls inside your house a neutral color.

Strip off the wallpaper that’s been around since your first child was born and refresh your home with a light, neutral paint. Our research of the psychological effects of color shows that, although grey is a trendy color right now, more people prefer neutral beige or white walls in potential homes.

“A can of paint goes a long way,” says top agent, Pam Zaragoza, a Silicon Valley housing expert with 22 years of experience. And most real estate agents that we speak to agree. Wolfe suggested, “Say they have wallpaper or something that’s really dated, sometimes just removing that and painting with a fresh coat of white paint could make a big difference in how a room looks.”

13. Bring in the natural light.

Every buyer loves a light and airy home. If a home feels stuffy and congested, buyers will not want to stick around. There are simple techniques for creating a brighter, more open space.

Clean windows on inside and outside
Let in natural light by replacing old blinds
Replace curtains and window treatments with light, neutral colors
Consider adding or updating ceiling fans
Eliminate unnecessary clutter
Get rid of large, bulky furniture
Take out dark furniture and décor

14. Replace any tarnished hardware (or polish it).

Swap out decade-old hardware for a simple but effective upgrade in home aesthetics. Tapping into modern design trends, matte black doorknobs throughout the house and stainless steel or brass handles in the kitchen will attract buyers with an eye for modern details.

So, pay attention to your knobs!

“The doorknob itself is the first thing people interact with. So you’ll see a lot of homes that have rusted doorknobs or it’s really hard for the key to work,” said Bartic. “Whatever the situation, those are things that you want to make sure are corrected.”

Another affordable interior hardware trend includes sleek, modern cabinet hardware pulls.

15. Walk around and do some quick touch-up home improvements.

Nothing makes a house feel old like wiggly handles and squeaky doors. With a can of WD-40 and a screwdriver, you can instantly wipe years off your home. You may be surprised at the things you’ve been living with.

“After years people just get used to that one cabinet knob that falls off,” says Bartic. “What you think is a $10 fix, buyers will think is a $500 fix and they’re going to reflect that when they go to make the offer.”

It’s time to tackle these tiny but bothersome flaws. Do a full walkthrough of your home and check for squeaky hinges, loose knobs, and burnt out bulbs.

Your home’s best shot to sell this summer

This home maintenance checklist is backed by the recommendations of some of the top real estate agents in the country, and we cover a lot of ground. If you complete all 15 items on this list, you’ll check off just about every nitpick a buyer might have as they tour your next open house, which may be more important than ever in the current market.

But at the end of the day, your house is unique and will have specific issues to tackle that an article like this can’t possibly address.

Give me a call and we can put together a customized home maintenance checklist for you to work through this summer.

SOURCE: Homelight

March 22, 2023 Weekly Market Watch with Chris Doucet

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March 15, 2023 Weekly Market Watch with Chris Doucet

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When Is the Best Time to Sell Your House? 5 Factors to Consider

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SOURCE: Realtor.com

Timing makes a huge difference in terms of selling your home quickly and for the most cash. But here’s the thing: The rules on pinpointing that best time might not be entirely obvious.

The assumption that spring is always the best time to sell is not necessarily true. The general direction of your local economy and mortgage interest rates also play critical roles.

There’s no crystal ball for reading the housing market, but there are ways to stack the deck in your favor. Here are five things to consider before putting your house on the market.

1. Spring isn’t always the best season to sell your house

Though conventional wisdom maintains that the spring home-buying season (April to June) is the best time to sell, that’s not always the case. In fact, one recent study even found that sellers typically net more above asking price during the months of December, January, February, and March than they do from June through November. Surprised?

One reason may be that the spring home-buying season generally means you’ll have more competition from other home sellers—and that may require you to price your home more aggressively in order to attract buyers. (Have questions on how to price your house? Here’s how to find a real estate agent in your area.)

“Listing in the spring means you are positioning yourself to compete with several other homes,” says Jersey City, NJ–based real estate agent Cheyanne Banks. “So as a seller in the spring, you have to price and market your home flawlessly to show buyers that your home is more desirable than the place next door.”

Additionally, a number of experts recommend listing a home in February or March so that the property hits the market before the competition ramps up—which may explain why a 2018 study by ATTOM Data Solutions of 14.7 million home sales from 2011 to 2017 found the second-best day of the year to sell a home is Feb. 15, with sellers netting an average premium of 9% above their house’s estimated market value on that day. (Sellers nab a 9.1% premium above market value on June 28.)

Winter is also a hot time of year for people relocating for jobs, says Jennifer Baldinger, a real estate broker in Scarsdale, NY.

“One of the biggest months for corporate relocation is January-February, so those buyers who need to move quickly are out in full force looking for new homes,” she says.

2. Keep an eye on the local economy

The strength of the U.S. housing market as a whole certainly plays a role in home prices. According to a realtor.com analysis of annual price growth rates, a home’s value generally increases 3% to 4% a year when the economy is strong, driven by inflation and natural population growth. From 2011 to 2016, the national housing market was recovering from the bubble at a slightly higher speed: 6.3% a year, on average.

You’ll want to assess your local economy’s conditions when figuring out when to list your home. One benchmark you can use is the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Home Price Index, which monitors single-family home sales in 20 major U.S. cities. Another valuable resource is the Metropolitan Median Area Prices and Affordability tracker from the National Association of Realtors®.

3. Mortgage rates matter, too

Generally, more people buy homes when mortgage rates drop, historic data shows. As a result, prospective sellers should be monitoring the mortgage market, says Jack Guttentag, author of “The Mortgage Encyclopedia.”

Need help keeping an eye on interest rates? Realtor.com has a mortgage rate trends tracker, which lets you follow interest rate changes in your local market.

4. Wait until your home’s in good shape

To fetch top dollar for your home, the property must show well. This may require you take time to make repairs to your house.

“Any defect or condition that affects the intended function or operation of a major house system should be fixed,” says Kathleen Kuhn, president of HouseMaster, a national chain of home inspection offices.

Translation: Taking care of leaks, built-in appliances not functioning properly, insect infestations, plus any imminent safety or environmental hazards, is crucial before listing your home. Even making cosmetic changes (e.g., repainting the kitchen or sprucing up the property’s landscaping) can make your home significantly more appealing to home buyers.

Keeping up with your neighbors is also important. If all the houses on your block are beautifully furnished and landscaped, then it’s likely worth it to spend the extra cash—and the time—primping your own home for sale.

5. Your personal preparedness is a priority, too

Yet no amount of timing should eclipse what time is right for you—personally, professionally, and otherwise. Are you ready to move on, or up into bigger digs? Though most experts advise you to live in your home at least ten years, there are circumstances where it just makes sense to sell. Many homeowners sell when they change jobs or when their children switch schools, or when the kids fly the coop and the parents are ready to downsize. So, take stock of your own situation when deciding whether to put your house on the market now or wait.

SOURCE: Realtor.com

CURATED • MARCH 2023 HOMES ACROSS THE STATES WITH CHRIS DOUCET

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CURATED • MARCH 2023 HOMES ACROSS THE STATES WITH CHRIS DOUCET marketingcenter-greaterseattle-seattle