A Guide to Preparing Your Home For a Spring Sale

25 Tips for preparing your home for a spring sale

It’s no surprise that spring is one of the best times to sell property. But with the warmer weather also comes an increase in listings, and more competition. To stand out, sellers need to give themselves the best chance of attracting the right buyers, achieving a strong sales price, and ultimately securing a smooth and successful sale. That’s why properly preparing your house for sale is key!

Getting your home ready doesn’t need to feel overwhelming. Breaking tasks into steps makes the process easier, and enlisting friends or family can help lighten the load.

It’s also important to talk through strategies with your real estate agent, including marketing, staging and presentation, so nothing is missed. To help, we’ve also compiled 25 practical tips designed to enhance your property’s appeal and give you confidence that you’re sale-ready this spring.

Decluttering and refreshing

1. Declutter

Make your home look clean, inviting and more spacious by saying goodbye to rarely used items or those simply collecting dust. Too many books and decorative items will make shelving and countertops look crowded. Decluttering also means removing any quirky or personal features that you may love but may not be to everyone’s tastes. Remember if you are unlikely to take an item to your next home, then donate, sell or discard it. Alternatively, using a storage company for a short period of time can be a great option to declutter without letting go of everything.

2. Depersonalise

It is also time to pack away photographs, trinkets and awards. The key to preparing your home sale is to allow potential buyers to visualise their own life in your home, not take a sticky beak at your own.

3. Cleaning

Cleaning is a crucial step in preparing your home for sale - even if it’s not the most exciting one. Going beyond your usual tidy-up can make a real difference. This means all the jobs you’ve been avoiding such as dusting in hard-to-reach areas, wiping down appliances and washing floors. If you don’t have much time, you can also hire a professional to get everything bright and sparkling.

4. Streamline your furniture

Another way to declutter your internal space is to remove excessive furniture. Bulky lounges, large recliners and even extra dining chairs can make a room seem cramped. Remember, you want potential buyers to imagine living in the home and see its true potential. 

5. Clear out cupboards

Serious buyers are likely to open kitchen drawers and look inside cupboards during an inspection. If it’s been a while since you’ve cleaned out the pantry, now is the time. They may also take a peek inside your wardrobe – after all they will want to check out hanging space and storage. Clearing out clothes you no longer wear (and don’t want to take with you) is a smart step when preparing your home for sale as a tidy, decluttered wardrobe helps buyers focus on the space available, rather than what’s inside it.

Lighting, space, and presentation

6. Open up the curtains

Maximising natural light in your home will make your interior feel more spacious and open. Importantly it creates a welcoming atmosphere that will appeal to homebuyers. If your interior feels dark and dingy, consider installing a skylight or a solar tube to brighten everything up. Painting walls in light neutrals or white will reflect light and create the illusion of more space. It also adds a sense of cohesion to space.

7. Don’t forget the windows

Clean windows will allow sunshine to stream inside and this is a must when selling your home. It also creates a positive first impression and shows buyers that your property is properly maintained. This job can also be outsourced if you are time-poor.

8. Repairs and maintenance

Take an objective look at your interiors and note any flaws, defects, or damage. Repair leaky taps, loose doorknobs, and faulty light switches. Give damaged walls a fresh coat of paint, and consider having carpet stains removed by professionals.

9. Make it look pretty

First impressions count when it comes to buyers’ opinions, so increase curb appeal and make your exteriors stand out. Use a pressure washer to hose down driveways and garden pathways, and add a new letterbox.  A new doormat or pot plants are an inexpensive way to freshen your front entry.

Gardening and outdoor living

10. Start gardening

Spring is the perfect time to showcase your garden. Rake away dead leaves, prune dead winter growth, and do a thorough weeding and mowing. Don’t forget to clear the gutters of any leaf debris. Add some mulch and make everything look tidy. Landscaping can also help increase the value of your property when preparing your home for sale - simple touches like hedging for privacy can instantly lift street appeal and stand out to buyers.

11. Outdoor flow

Whether you are selling an apartment or an acreage, there is one thing buyers all want, and that is the connection to the outdoors. Adding a small table to a balcony or creating an alfresco can pay dividends. If your back deck allows it, consider even adding an outdoor lounge and stringing up some lights. Accessorise with some simple touches such as potted plants, cushions and even an umbrella for shade. If you have enough space, a fire pit can also make a space looking inviting.

12. Highlighting seasonal colours

Spring brings about a whole new array of colours, especially if you have a large garden with a variety of plants and trees. Take advantage of the natural colour palette by placing your potted plants (existing or new) in eye-catching locations. These can take your outdoor (or even indoor) spaces to the next level and create a wonderful sense of warmth for potential buyers.

Seek out professional support

13. Finding a listing agent

A real estate agent’s connection, along with local market knowledge and expertise, plays an important role in achieving the sales results you desire in the shortest time possible. It makes sense to use someone who is on the ground working in your suburb and who is keeping track of recent sales. Speak to your local LJ Hooker who can provide you with an appraisal of your property’s value - search for an agent near you.

14. Research the market

Real estate agents specialise in answering the ‘how much is my home worth’ question, and they do it by running a comparative market analysis which involves finding similar properties that sold usually within the last 90 days. Attending local auctions will also provide insight into current demand in your area and is a great way to see local LJ Hooker agents in action.

15. Home improvements

Whether you should renovate before you sell is not always an easy ‘yes’ or ‘no’ question. There is a lot to consider before you start ripping out kitchens and knocking down walls. Your agent may suggest more cost-effective ways to make your property stand out and appeal to the right buyers as while renovations can be valuable, they're a big step - and one best taken with the right advice.

16. Marketing

Promotion is key when selling your home in spring to reach potential buyers. LJ Hooker is the expert when it comes to marketing properties to achieve outstanding sales results.  Agents know how to generate leads through social media, property portals, signboards and more traditional methods such as letterbox drops and print advertising. They may also present the property directly to buyers already on their database, in addition to holding open inspections to the public.

17. Professional photography

Capture the attention of potential buyers with sleek images that highlight your home’s best features. With 86% of buyers likely to view your property online, having high-quality, accurate images will ensure your listing stands out from the competition. Your agent will organise a photographer/videographer for the job.

18. Copywriting/floor plan

A skilled copywriter can bring your property to life with engaging, accurate text that highlights key features as well as the lifestyle benefits buyers are looking for. The right words will showcase the best aspects of your home, appeal directly to your target audience, and help generate more interest. Pairing this with a high-quality floorplan image makes the listing even more compelling.

19. Make sure your property is compliant

Depending on where you live, swimming pools must meet certain guidelines, including fence height and security gates. Structures that have been built without proper approval can also hinder the sale process. Talk to your agent about compliance to avoid any last-minute delays when selling.

20. Staging

Staging a property is more than just tidying or perfectly arranging lounge cushions. It is about creating an emotional connection. It is estimated to add five to 10 per cent to the final sale price and can even result in a quicker sale. You don’t need to do a full makeover when selling your home. A stylist may be able to use your existing furniture or may recommend a partial staging of key rooms in the home.

Buyer appeal and sales strategy

21. Target the right buyers

If your home is located in a sought-after school zone, there's a good chance families will be interested in viewing your property. They are likely to value internal access from the garage, multiple rooms, a play area, a study nook and even a spot to hang school bags. A cubby house in the backyard and even a pool could win over youngsters, too.

22. Neutralising smells

Potential buyers may leave quickly if the property fails to engage all of their senses, including their noses. Natural fragrances that create a fresh, clean, and relaxing atmosphere have been shown to influence buyer behaviour. Think citrus, pine, vanilla, cinnamon and lavender. These beautiful fragrances are sure to have prospective purchasers fall in love with your home with both their hearts and noses.

23. Decide on your type of sale

Do your research and talk to your agent about the best method of sale for your property. There are plenty of advantages to an auction campaign, particularly in spring, with both sellers and buyers keen to make a move before the end of the year. 

Vendors have the option of taking an early offer or waiting until auction day, both types of sale are unconditional. Homes that don’t reach their reserve price and are passed in often sell within two weeks of their auction date.

24. Timing your sale

Picking the right time to list your home is crucial. Always speak with your agent about when local buyers are most active, as timing can make all the difference in a competitive market. For example, listing your home in the middle of the week can be an effective way to maximise attendance at a weekend inspection.

25. Being inspection-ready

It’s important to keep your home ready for inspections throughout the entire sales process, as a potential buyer could request a private viewing at any time. Quick daily tidying and preventing clutter from accumulating are essential. Make sure you get the whole family involved and that everyone is cleaning up after themselves!

Book an appraisal with LJ Hooker

If you’re thinking of selling this spring, book a free expert property appraisal with an LJ Hooker agent and discover your home’s true value. Our team will be with you every step of the way, offering expert tips and proven strategies to make selling your home as seamless as possible.

DISCLAIMER - The information provided is for guidance and informational purposes only and does not replace independent business, legal and financial advice which we strongly recommend. Whilst the information is considered true and correct at the date of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact the accuracy of the information provided. LJ Hooker will not accept responsibility or liability for any reliance on the blog information, including but not limited to, the accuracy, currency or completeness of any information or links.