Summer is a busy month for real estate activity. The increased activity comes from families looking to move before the start of the school year to developers looking to maximize on long daylight hours to complete renovation projects. If you want to capitalize on the busier summer season, remember that home staging can help to maximize your buyer pool and the dollar amount on the offers received. Incorporating some summer-specific tactics that play into what is on buyer’s minds will make your home more attractive.
Why Stage Your Home for the Season?
Remember, home staging works to create an emotional connection between buyers and the property. By thoughtfully considering the layout and decor style, staging allows prospective buyers to envision the space as their own.
The more attractive a space is, the more potential buyers it has, ultimately leading to multiple offers at a higher value. In fact, according to a report published by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 83% of buyers’ agents stated that home staging made it easier for a potential buyer to visualize the property as a future home.
How do you stage your home to maximize its market appeal and value? Make choices that play up the home’s best features, inside and out. Consider curb appeal, lighting, colors, and temperature. Small, seasonally appropriate updates and additions can maximize your home’s impact to potential buyers. Try these five suggestions to stage your home this summer for an optimized home sale.
Play Up Colors
The summer season is about vivid colors. Think flowers in full bloom, lush greenery, bright blue skies, and radiating sunlight. The summer color palette is about energy and brilliance. Go ahead and select vibrant colors that go along with the active lifestyle typical for the season.
On the home’s exterior, plant bright flowers like impatiens, dahlias, daisies, or pansies in the landscaping. If you have limited space, add some potted plants for a pop of color. Inside, supplement the décor with small pops of summery colors with bright throw pillows and hand towels, summer-themed candles, or setting the dining table with a summer theme.
Remember Curb Appeal
First impressions are everything, so play up the curb appeal. Even though the summer sun can be harsh on a yard, do your best to maintain an attractive yard to impress potential buyers. Try to keep your grass watered and trimmed. Update with fresh landscaping if needed.
What about a summer drought? If all the neighbors’ yards look parched, buyers will likely know it’s the weather, not a lack of regular yard maintenance. However, when the neighbors’ yards look well-maintained compared to yours, it signals a lack of maintenance and may turn off potential buyers.
Play up the curb appeal approaching your front door area. Make the entryway welcoming with a bright doormat or cheerful flowerpots. Hang a summer-themed wreath or flag, or add some solar-powered lights along the walkway.
Highlight Outdoor Living
Summertime is about being outside. It’s when we enjoy barbecues, picnics, and lazy days swimming. Showcase what people can do in your yard to show how they’ll enjoy all the season has to offer with some outdoor staging.
Stage a patio area with a table and chairs. Set the outdoor dining area with plates to showcase the potential for gatherings and dinner parties. Select neutral outdoor furniture with pops of color in the cushions and place settings. Leave the grill out, along with any fun yard toys like cornhole.
Let the buyers imagine all the fun they’ll have entertaining guests on summer days. Incorporate outdoor lighting for parties that run into the cool, summer evenings. Think solar lights, a string of Edison bulbs, or tiki torches. Shade is a plus for those hot afternoons. Place an umbrella or a sunshade on the seating area, or plant some new trees to add a natural shade to the yard.
Play up any garden space you may have. Make sure the plants are maintained. Throw in some herbs or easy-to-grow vegetables.
If the outdoor area is tight on space, you can still find ways to show how someone can utilize the area. Hang a hammock or small swing, add appropriately sized seating, and strategically place a few plants.
Keep It Cool…Literally
The summer brings heat and humidity. Make buyers comfortable the moment they walk in. Make sure your A/C is on and set to a cool, comfortable temperature. Ceiling fans can help to circulate the cool air as well. If a buyer feels comfortable when viewing your home, they’re more likely to spend more time at the showing and can better see themselves living there in the future.
Light In Abundance
Natural light is highly desirable with buyers. During the time of year where light is in abundance, play up the bright, natural light as much as possible. Trim back any overgrown hedges or trees that block windows. Clean all the windows and doors, and hang new window treatments that encourage the sunlight in. If creating heat is a concern, use sheer curtains to maximize light in the space without raising the temperature. For darker rooms, increase the light by adding mirrors or lighter window shades.
Selling Your Home in the Summer
Summer is an excellent time of year to sell your home. Make the most of the increased market activity by strategically playing up how your home is a great place to enjoy the summer season. Take advantage of your outdoor living area, the vibrant colors, and the natural beauty of the season to attract more buyers to your home.
