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Sherry's Real Estate Blog

Guide to Prepping Your Home NOW to Sell in the Spring Market

Writer's picture: Sherry SantmyerSherry Santmyer

Updated: Aug 24, 2023


Prepping to list in the Spring Real Estate Market

Prepping your home to sell in the 2023 Real Estate Market looks a lot different then last year at this time. In Fall of 2021, a home would be listed and have multiple offers on the first day. No home, well, septic or wood destroying insect inspection. Buyer's were having to go in blind sighted and way over the asking price. Fall 2022 has turned the table. Buyer's are able to ask for just about anything. So the question is "How can you prep your home now to sell in the 2023 Spring Market?"


What I am seeing sell is what I call a "10 out of 10 house". What this means is seller's need to have their home in tip top shape. Spring is just around the corner. Seller's who start prepping now can "Wow" buyers with "The Exception", their perfect home.

If you are planning on selling in the spring, here are some ways you can start prepping your home to sell in the 2023 real estate market:

  1. Remove Clutter and Depersonalize- think in a minimalist way. Clean out closets, cabinets and clutter that is laying around your home. It might be a good idea to rent a storage unit to store personal items, furniture, pictures of family, awards, etc. You want the buyer to be able to see your house as their home. They can't do that if things are in their way.


  1. Paint with neutral colors- It is all great that you like bright colors in every room but a buyer has a different vision. Neutral colors like beige, ivory, light tan or light grey on the walls, helps buyers to imagine their personal items in the rooms. Checkout Benjamin Moore's neutral paint colors. Hiring a professional to paint will not only help with getting the job done right the first time, it will also prevent you from undue stress.


  1. Order a Pre-Inspection of your home- Hiring a home inspector to pre-inspect your home will save you time in the long run. The report will tell if anything major needs to be repaired or replaced.


  1. Perform Repairs- repair the items on the the pre-inspection. Note all repairs completed and provide to buyer to help speed along the contract to close process. Major defects could be found. Be prepared to fix these problems, unless you are selling your place "as is".


  1. Prune & Spruce Up Landscaping- make sure all bushes and trees are pruned away from the house. The lawn and landscaping is the first thing a buyer sees. A good first impression starts with curb appeal.


Sherry Santmyer Leesburg Wv Img 6661

6. An Inviting Front Door- a front door that is appealing and invites the buyer in is an extension to the landscaping. It might be painting the door an inviting color, replacing house numbers or adding bluestone to the front concrete stoop.


Inviting Front Door
Inviting Front Door

7. Natural Light- Buyer's love natural light. Look around and see if curtains and blinds are making your home dark. Take down curtains or anything that is not allowing the natural light into the home.


8. Updating Light Fixtures and Decor- updated light fixtures can change a 1970's house into a 2020 home. Spending a little money to buy modern light fixtures that are attractive and eye catching is well worth the money. Take down all pictures and decorations that are long gone in style.


9. Floors- clean all floors and if carpet is stained, replace. Nice, new flooring goes along ways!


10. Eliminate Bad odors- Walking into a home and smelling wet dog or cat urine, will not sell a home. The smell needs to be remedied. Lighted candles and heavy potpourri smell makes a buyer believe you are masking a big problem.


11. Renovations- stick with small, budget friendly renovations. It is not practical to renovate a kitchen or a bathroom. It is practical to do a few updates, like vinyl wood floor in the rec room, painting the whole house neutral, adding updated light fixtures and decluttering the home so it shows well.


Prepping your home now prepares you to be ready to list in the spring of 2023. Typically, March is the best time to list a home. The key is to "Wow" the buyer with a close to perfect home! Check out my website for more valuable information.

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Sherry Santmyer

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