Summer Home Selling Tips

Tips for Selling Your Home this Summer

Most people will tell you that the summer is not a particularly good time to put your house on the market.

But if you search for your own answers, you’ll find out they’re not absolutely right. Yes, number of units sold in July and August tend not to be as high as in the peak months of May and June. But they are certainly higher than in the winter months and they generally fall in the middle of the pack for all months of the year – neither the best nor the worst.

3 Very Compelling Reasons To List Your Home in Summer:

1. Summer Buyers can be More Motivated

The summer real estate naysayers will tell you that everyone’s at the cottage or home with the kids – not house hunting. If that’s true, then anyone who is buying a home must be serious about it. That means they will be more prepared to purchase and you’ll be less likely to experience any problems after you accept their offer.

2. Real Numbers Show How Good Summer Can Be

If you look at the Toronto Real Estate Board’s numbers for July, 2015, in Markham, they show just how good the summer months can be. Last July, the average price of a Markham home was up 14.6% versus the year before. Average time on the market was just over 2 weeks, at 17 days (talk about a quick sell!), and sellers received an average of 103% of their asking price. Check any month of the year and you’ll see that those numbers are as good as any.

3. There’s no Better Time to Move

Even if you choose to ignore all the good numbers and other reasons why summer is as good a time as any to sell your home, think about the convenience. No need to worry about freezing while you or the movers keep your home’s doors open in January; and its much less likely that’ll you’ll have to move in the rain in August versus April. Everything about selling and moving, from staging to getting organized for the move, is generally easier in the summer.

So, now that you’re convinced that summer isn’t such a bad time to sell your house here are…

5 Tips to Maximize Your Home’s Value in Summer:

Last month we talked about 5 home renovations that don’t pay off but here are are some tips to help get your money’s worth.

1. Keep Your Lawn & Yard Green & Trim

First impressions are important and your lawn is just about the first thing prospective buyers see of your home. Keep it well irrigated, mow it regularly and make sure all the edges are neat. Make sure hedges are cut and remove dead branches and leave regularly. Take a look at the outside of your home every day and take care of anything that you don’t find appealing.

2. Furnish the Deck

If you have a deck or patio, make it inviting with a table, chairs and umbrella or gazebo. It’s yet another advantage of summer selling that you get to show off the yard as part of the overall package of your home.

3. Let in the Light

Viewing times are more likely to be in daylight than in other months, so put that to your advantage by opening up drapes to create a lighter, airier feel in the home. It will seem larger too.

4. Keep it Cool, But not Too Cool

Especially on hotter days, a nicely cool interior will keep buyers in your home for longer. But if it’s so cold they get a chill, they’ll head back outside. When it’s not too hot or humid outside, consider shutting off the AC and throwing open the windows.

5. Offer Seasonal Refreshments & Snacks

Again, especially on hot summer days, chilled bottled water and juice on ice; and fresh, cool fruit or vegetables, will be welcome refreshments for your visitors.

So if you are thinking about selling your home this summer, now you know there’s no reason that you can’t make the best of it!