Getting Your Home Ready for a Summer Sale

Summer changes how buyers look at a home. The evenings run long, the doors stay open and people start picturing weekends by the pool or on the deck. If you plan to sell between December and February, your home needs to feel good in the heat. Start preparing now.

Here’s what we tell sellers across the Upper North Shore and Northern Beaches.

Start outside

Buyers make up their minds before they reach the front door. By November your garden will have had a full spring of growth, so book a prune and fresh mulch for October or early November. Cut back anything that hides the house from the street. Clear the leaves and gum nuts out of the gutters, and pressure clean the driveway and paths while you’re at it.

If you have a pool, get it sparkling now. A green pool in January will cost you far more than the chemicals would have. Service the pump, check the fence, and sort out your pool compliance paperwork early. You’ll need it for the contract.

Keep it cool

Nothing sends buyers back to their car faster than a stuffy house on a 34 degree Saturday. Get the air con serviced before your first open home and turn it on an hour before buyers arrive. No air con? Open the house up early in the morning, then close the blinds on the western side before the afternoon sun hits. Ceiling fans help too.

Let the light in

Wash the windows inside and out. Clean the tracks on your sliding doors so they glide, because buyers will try them. Sheer curtains take the edge off harsh sun without hiding the view.

Show buyers the summer lifestyle

Summer buyers picture themselves outdoors. Set up the deck or courtyard with a table, a few chairs and a big potted plant. Give the barbecue a proper clean. On the Northern Beaches, an outdoor shower or a spot to rinse off sand by the back door is worth pointing out. On the Upper North Shore, a shady corner under established trees can make the photos.

Fix the small stuff

The dripping tap, the sticky door, the cracked tile. On their own they seem minor. Together they make buyers wonder what else you haven’t got around to.

Declutter before Christmas arrives

The festive season brings extra everything. Pack away what you don’t need before December, and keep decorations simple if your campaign runs through the holidays. A tree in the corner looks lovely. A lounge room stacked with boxes and wrapping paper doesn’t.

Think about timing

Some buyers switch off over Christmas and come back keen in late January. Others use the break to inspect at their own pace. Your agent can help you decide whether a pre-Christmas campaign or a late January launch suits your home and your plans. If you have kids, factor in the school holidays too.

Get the paperwork moving

You need a contract ready before you list. Call your conveyancer early, as they get busy in the lead-up to Christmas.

Talk to us early

The sellers who get the best results usually start planning six to eight weeks out. If a summer sale is on your mind, call your local Ray White Upper North Shore & Northern Beaches agent. We’ll walk through your home with you and tell you honestly what’s worth doing and what you can skip.