Summer Is Home Selling Time: 4 Tips to Achieve the Highest Price for Your Home

Today’s post is sponsored by Ingrid Williams, a local mom and Realtor for Re/Max.

Spring and summer are the best seasons to buy or sell a home and the Des Moines metro market is really moving. If you have been thinking of listing your home for sale don’t wait any longer! Inventory is down and homes are selling. A mix of low interest rates and reasonably priced homes has really made a “perfect storm” for home buyers and sellers.

As your local Realtor, I have some tips to help you achieve the highest price for your home:

1. Curb Appeal

Touch up the front of the house. This includes things like washing mildew from the porch columns and rails, trimming the hedges neatly, planting plenty of flowers, and using lots of dark mulch. Also, be sure to water regularly. With all our spring rain the lawn should be mowed at least once a week. Pick up trash not only in front of your house but in front of your neighbors’ houses.

2. Wash the windows and let the light shine through.

Give your windows and screens a good scrub. A little ammonia-based window cleaner and a damp rag should do the job on the glass. Remove the screens, and, if possible, use a hose to spray them down. Also, remember to open your blinds or window coverings when you have a showing.

3. Clean, clean, clean!

This costs very little and means so much. An immaculate house will sell more quickly and bring more money. It speaks volumes to the buyer about how the house was taken care of (or not). Make the entryway cheerful and welcoming by buying a new welcome mat and put a pot of (real live) flowers at the door. Indoors, purchase a nice comforter for the beds, along with new shower curtains, fluffy towels and pristine rugs for the bathrooms. These all go a long way to presenting these rooms well.

4. Add a fresh coat of paint.

One of the best ways to make your home look well cared for is to paint inside and out. It’s  relatively low cost and easy for the do-it-yourself weekend warrior. A home that is freshly painted is seem as clean and ready for new life, from a buyer’s perspective. A gray or mocha wall with white trim and moldings has essentially become the new white wall of this generation – your aim should be to go neutral, not boring.

These basic tips will help you achieve a higher selling price and shorter time on the market. 

 Summer = Fun Times at Adventureland! Discount tickets!

And what to do with the family while your home is being shown? I have a perfect solution for you!

I’m offering tickets to Adventureland to my clients, friends and all Des Moines Mom Blog readers for just $22. That’s almost 1/2 off!

To purchase discount tickets, email me at [email protected] and put Adventureland in the subject. I have a limited amount of tickets, and you can pay for and pick them up at my office in West Des Moines after your email confirmation from me!

My goal is to be your trusted advisor and resource for all things real estate.