We Answer Wednesday - How to create curb appeal in the early spring

"My house is hitting the real estate market very soon.  I know we have a great house on the inside but right now in this early spring weather, it's not looking great.  What can we do to increase our curb appeal when our gardens aren't in bloom?"


You are so right! Depending on where you live this time of year isn't the prettiest.  The good news is there are simple things that you can do to show off your great outdoor space. But your home is on the market now and you don't want to wait until the gardens are in full bloom.

The gardens aren't quite in bloom yet and the garden centers are gearing up for the season but in some areas it is still a bit early for planting.  But the grass is green, so use what you have and make the best of it.  So start with giving your yards (front and back) a good raking.  There is always some dead leaves and branches on the ground - just getting those off the grass will give the exterior a clean look.  Depending on your area you grass might be a bit on the long side.  So give it a mow and you will notice how much neater everything looks.



Flowers are a great way to add a splash of colour but because you are selling you might not want to make a huge investment in flowers this spring season plus it is still a bit early for planting.  A great alternative is planters at the front of the house and if you have a great deck space, some planters at the back are a nice touch too. So in these early spring days which flowers can handle this fresher weather? Potted Pansies are a great option - they are sturdy and colourful and if you take care of them, they will last all summer.  A bit of height is a good idea when creating your planters - in the spring we love forsythia - the pop of yellow draws the eye in! Remember these 3 words when creating a planter: Spill, Fill and Thrill; in other works, have some greenery or flowers that hang over the edge of the planter, have some plants and flowers that fill the majority of the pot (of medium height) and some height - the image below is a great example of a spring planter.



Create a welcoming vignette at the front door - this is the buyers first impression of the home so make it count! If you have a porch put out a bench with a cushion for a pop of colour.  Try a wreath on the front door. 


Just because it isn't summer yet doesn't mean you can't set the scene for buyers.  So pull out and dust off that patio furniture - maybe this is a bit early than usual but remember you are show casing your home for buyers so you want them to see how they would enjoy summer BBQs and get togethers outside.  So place the furniture like you would if you were entertaining so have a dining area and a seating area. Roll out the BBQ and take off the cover.  Now that the furniture is set up and clean, make it pretty with some outdoor pillows and maybe even an outdoor rug - it creates a welcoming scene for buyers.





Want to take it to the next level? For the photos you can set the dining table or at the seating area, set up a tray with a pitcher  - this will help make that emotional connection with the potential buyers who are looking online.

If you have a pool, make sure to have it open and running.  A pool always looks better (and photographs better) when it is blue and beautiful!

If you have incredible gardens or a beautiful flowering tree look through your photos and see if you have some beautiful 'full bloom' summer photos to share with your agent - these would be great to show buyers as well.

Other curb appeal factors to look into:

- check all exterior lighting are the bulbs in working order ?
- brush away any cobwebs or other debris that may have collected over the winter
- check the mailbox, is it rusted or loosely affixed to the house?
- does your doorbell work?
- how is the paint on the front door?
- how is the roof?
- sweep the walkways, driveway, porch and decks

Home Staging for the Spring/Summer Real Estate Market

When people purchase a home they buy a vision of their future. And most people's vision of summer is a happy one.  

Now that spring is here and summer is soon to follow, it's the time to double-check your homestaging. 

 

Does it capitalize on the happy vibes of the season?

Here is a series of photos that we think captures the spirit of spring and summer, one of the busiest home-buying times of the year.

  We hope you'll take inspiration and ideas from these images, and make the most of the warmer weather inspiration to stage your home so you'll land a purchase offer you love!

'Summertime' staging can incorporate a little whimsy without looking goofy. Try some humorous or nostalgic touches in small spaces or outdoors. How about some silly sayings on your guest bath towels? Or vintage beach scenes framed in the hallway?A bench at the front porch with colourful pillows is always welcoming.  Embrace the beauty of the season and add some of those touches inside and out to create an inviting 'dream' home for potential buyers.  But don't get cluttered and carried away.....

 

What do you think of when the nice weather arrives.....gardening, pool parties, entertaining, BBQ season...if your home features a large patio space highlight it with furniture and potted plants - set up the BBQ, too - set the scene.  Have a pool ? Open it and set it up - it looks so much better and again it sets the tone and gets buyers mentally moving in....




For photos and open houses (private showings, too) set up your patio like you have company coming over (because, well, you do!) This shows off the fun and the function of your outdoor space - do the visualizing for the buyer.    Same goes for setting up your 3 season porch or wrap around porch - highlight that feature with furniture and accessories!




 Even small touches like  summer wreath of fabric, floral wreath, shells, or bright summer flowers on the front door welcomes people touring your home. Pots of blooming plants near your entrance are a must if you're working on boosting your curb appeal. You can take potted plants with you when you move, so splurge on pretty containers and interesting plants. 

 

 

 

 

Even though it is the spring - summer market you can still draw attention to features and focal points like the fireplace - the yellow flowers attract the eye, the mirror makes the area bright, the light tones keep everything feeling fresh and big

What a peaceful bedroom!  In soft tones and gender neutral!  Some pattern to keep it visually interesting but not overwhelming.  The paint is also neutral but warm - the chair and over sized side table show off the function and size of the room.  The bed linens are clean and crisp

 

 Small summer touches like flowers in any room - even the kitchen can add a splash of fun and summer whimsy!

 

 

Pull back those drapes and let the light in!  Open the windows and let in some fresh air, too!

 

'Coastal colours' are perfect for staging - they are light, airy and bright.  These tones help create a soothing and relaxing space.  If a buyer has a feeling of calm and serenity they will certainly want to stay longer and tour the home.

 

 

 

 

Potted plant and flowers look great!  Think about size and scale to make sure your patio or porch don't look small and you can clutter outdoor spaces with too many potted plants so keep it minimal and size appropriate.  This arrangement is great because it really compliments the exterior tones of the home - the multi tonal brick with a red base and the black door look great with the deep purples and reds and the fresh green is a bright accent - this arrangement would also transition well into the fall season.

 We hope you'll find small and not-so-small ways to showcase the joys of summer for househunters. No matter where you live or what size, style or age your home is, there's always opportunities to "summarize" it. Doing so will help buyers imagine their summer cookouts, staycations, and celebrations at your house once they've bought it!