Spring is the official start of the home selling season, but plenty of homes are sold on the hottest of summer days. If you are considering selling your Chicago home this summer you may be wondering where to begin. First, contact a top real estate agent in the Chicago area who can assist you. Next, get your home ready to sell by following a few of the staging tips below that will drastically increase your chances of selling your Chicago home quickly and for a great price.
Upkeep the yard
Nothing draws in more buyers than a beautifully manicured yard. In fact, a manicured yard and perfectly crafted curb appeal will increase your home’s value significantly and according to top HomeLight real estate agents increase your chances of selling your home.
General yard upkeep should include:
- Mow the lawn
- Remove and kill weeds
- Repair and patch thin or bare grass areas
- Remove debris, twigs, and sticks
- Clean around bushes
- Trim back trees and overgrown bushes
- Plant easy to care for flowers
- Add a fresh layer of mulch
You should also power wash your home’s exterior as well as the driveway and walkways. In addition, clean the exterior of the windows, clean the front door, and if it is needed paint the front door and swap out old hardware with new more modern versions.
Dress up the front porch
No, you don’t need to tie balloons and ribbons around the front porch, but you should dress up the front porch to attract potential buyers. Start with a clean front porch that is void of cobwebs, dirt, and left over debris. Next, create a sitting area. Use adirondack chairs or a porch swing for a casual feel. Dress up the seating with new outdoor cushions and add brightly colored throw pillows. Add a welcome mat and put a fresh summery wreath on the front door. Finally, add a pot of flowers or ferns for a bit of extra color.
Let in the light
Nothing brightens up a room more than natural light. When you stage your home make sure you pull dark curtains and heavy blinds off the windows so that as much natural light as possible can come in. Replace dark curtains with sheer ones and remove blinds all together. Wipe down windows and remove leftover dirt from the exterior as well.
Create an outdoor seating area
Summers are meant to be spent outdoors. Showcase outdoor entertaining spaces to potential buyers by creating an outdoor seating area that is perfect for relaxing or entertaining. If you have a covered patio use the area as a spot for an outdoor sofa and outdoor chairs.
Make sure the seats are fitted properly with outdoor cushions and throw pillows. Next, add a small outdoor table where you can place candles, a centerpiece of flowers, or piece of art. Finally, spruce up any other items you may have outdoors such as an outdoor kitchen, dining area, or fire pit. Each of these will add to your home’s value and attract a variety of buyers.
Of course no amount of staging will be seen if your home is cluttered or dirty. So tackle decluttering and deep cleaning before you stage. That means removing photos, art, and knick-knacks that are overly personal or take away from the neutral tone of the house. Scrub and polish every square inch of the house so that it shines. Finally, if your home is in need of a fresh coat of paint on the walls, do that before staging. Adding a neutral paint color to the walls will only enhance your home’s beauty and add to its value and marketability.
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