Selling Season Is Upon Us! Tips from Donna Murray, Real Estate Agent

Spring still seems a bit away, but it will be here before we know it! We can’t wait to hear birds singing and flowers blooming. Did you know that spring not only brings beautiful blooms but is the start of the residential sale season? Demand is at its highest during the spring, as there are more serious buyers looking to purchase homes. 

Donna Murray, of COMPASS Real Estate, offers tips to do now to get your home ready for a Spring Sale.

Curb Appeal

Curb appeal is not only a term thrown around on HGTV television shows. Curb appeal hints at “the general attractiveness of a house or other piece of property from the sidewalk to a prospective buyer.” Try standing on the street or sidewalk in front of your home to see what they’ll look at as they pull up to your home. Simple fixes go a long way. Power wash all outdoor surfaces, making sure patios, decks, and walkways are swept. Be sure to clean all of your windows, both inside and out. Look at your landscaping and be sure it looks neat. You can paint your front door to look fresh and replace your mailbox with a new one. Make sure that your house numbers are on display boldly. Buy a new doormat and some fresh plants to put in pots. 

First Impressions

Make sure that you make a great first impression inside, too. You want potential buyers to see your home and want to move in! Give your home a deep clean. Make sure your vents and baseboards are clean. Declutter your home and organize the countertops, cabinets, and closets. Touch up any scuffs on the wall with a fresh coat of paint. Ditch bold colors on the walls like orange or lime green. Consider painting any bold walls something neutral, like white tones, grey tones, or beige. Make sure your floors are swept and mopped and vacuum and carpets. Open blinds and curtains to let natural light in.

Fix-It Up

There is a balance between making your home pristine and making it look lived-in. Comb your home looking for personal items, like family photographs, to put away. You may need to also look at magazines, awards, bulletin boards, and calendars that show too much of your personal life. Make note of anything that is broken that might need fixing. Also, check for light bulbs that are out and replace them as needed. Have a few elements that make your home look lived in, like vases of fresh-cut flowers or fresh produce in a bowl on the counter. Style your dining room table so that it looks inviting with a small arrangement or centerpiece.

Look around your home and try to make sure every room has a clear purpose that a potential buyer can see, such as a family room, a bedroom, a study. While those extra bedrooms could be a catchall of odds and ends, a buyer doesn’t want to see this. Make it a guest room or something specific that they could visualize using. If you have pets, be sure there isn’t an abundance of their items or smells around the house. Put away bones and be extra vigilant about washing carpets.

These tips are a great start. When it comes time to sell your home, Donna has expertise about what shows well and catches a potential buyer’s eye. Reach out to her at donna.murray@compass.com or call 908-391-8396.

Donna Murray is a Real Estate Salesperson with Compass Real Estate and specializes as a Listing Agent and a Buyer’s Agent, specializing in Relocation and Consulting. She can be reached at donna.murray@compass.com or 908-391-8396 with any questions. 

Donna ranked in the top % of real estate agents in Mercer County. Working together with her team helps Donna meet your needs promptly and to achieve their real estate goals. To Donna real estate is not only a career but a passion.

Donna partnered with Compass RE as a founding agent of their Princeton office. With the solutions-driven mindset of a startup and the sophistication of a luxury brand, Compass supports the aspirational goals Donna has set for her business.