It’s no secret that spring is the optimal time to list your home: The majority of buyers want to be settled in by the start of the school year in September, plus your house will look so pretty when winter finally ends. But those final-hour things you can do to improve your home are sometimes not so obvious. We turned to Mary Kate Fitzgerald of Houlihan Lawrence LaGrangeville Brokerage to get some insider advice on which home projects to prioritize.
Clean
“Most agents will tell you the key to getting your home market ready is de-clutter and clean,” says Fitzgerald, a licensed real estate salesperson who has contributed to the Houlihan Lawrence blog North of NYC. “Sometimes this means cleaning places you would not expect. I tell my clients always: Wash your windows! The winter months can wreak havoc on your windows, preventing natural light from entering.” And don’t forget your doors, “especially your front door, which is often the first thing a prospective buyer will see.”
Easy Updates
“You’d be surprised how a simple mosaic tile can take your kitchen from 1920 to [today]. Most can be installed for a reasonable cost, or even DIY for the right homeowner.”
A Vanity Project
“This one might require a little more craftsmanship, but changing the vanity in your bathroom and repainting the walls can give the whole space a fresh and clean look,” Fitzgerald notes. For anyone considering the slightly more ambitious home project, she recommends, “add a new light-colored shower curtain and bright white towels to complete the transformation.”
Make Minor Repairs
“Now is the time to take care of those items that have been pushed to the bottom of your to-do list. Things like hanging gutters, doors that stick, or leaking faucets. Minor items add up when a buyer tours your home — and can sometimes be their single takeaway.”
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