Practically everyone has heard the rumour that the best time to sell a home is in the spring, but that doesn’t mean you can’t sell your home any other time of year. In fact, the laid-back feeling and ability to let a lot of sunlight into your home during these months can make your home seem even more attractive.

Furthermore, plenty of families are looking for a quick move, hoping to get the kids settled before the new school year starts.

We’ve put together some of the best strategies for selling your home in the summer.

Show off Curb Appeal

Curb appeal is important, and the first thing people see in the summer are the grass, bushes and flowers surrounding it. If it isn’t looking pristine, a potential buyer may not even stop to look at the inside of the home. Summer is the best time to show off how beautiful your front and backyard is.

Make sure you water and fertilize the lawn as needed to keep the fresh, green look. Additionally, it’s a good idea to mow the lawn twice a week instead of once. This way, it will always look tidy when someone drives by.

If you have an attractive backyard, buyers will get excited about imagining their family hanging out in the yard. Think about what makes your backyard or neighbourhood special, and highlight that. For instance, if your neighbourhood is popular with families who have young children, you might create a yard that has fun things for the kids, like a sandbox or a swingset. If the best thing about your yard is that it has a lot of privacy, create a cozy atmosphere for hanging out around a fire pit.

Keep the Home Cool

People have varying levels of comfort when it comes to the temperature inside the home. Many people are willing to put up with keeping the thermostat a few degrees higher in the summer to save on energy costs, but no one wants to live in a home that’s sweltering. You want any prospective buyer to feel that your home is a comfortable temperature, so it’s important to keep the air conditioner running. This might even mean keeping it cool during the daytime when you’re at work. You never know when a real estate agent might want to bring someone by.

If you don’t have air conditioning, make a habit of closing all the windows, doors and blinds when you get up in the morning to keep all the cool air you let in overnight.

Leave Refreshments Out

Touring homes sometimes feels like hard work, especially when the weather is muggy. Offer those who come to tour your home a few refreshments. During an open house, you might set out a pitcher of fresh lemonade and some slices of watermelon. For the occasional home tour, you could leave a basket of granola bars and a cooler of water bottles out, along with a sign offering people to take something.

Doing this won’t necessarily sell your home, but it can make the home stick out in people’s memories.

Focus on What Makes Your Home Special

Stage your home in a way that highlights the things that make it stand out. Does it have a great dining room? Set the table the way you might set it for a nice Sunday meal. Love your patio? Make it seem like you’re getting ready for a barbecue. Does your home have a lot of little nooks? Turn them into specialized areas, like a desk area, a library, or a craft zone. These types of details can help people imagine what their life might be like in your home. If the surrounding neighbourhood is part of the attraction of your home, consider asking your agent to print up flyers with information about the school district and local shops to make sure that everyone knows these important details.

Depersonalize, Fix and Clean

One of the most important things to do when selling your home — at any time of the year — is to declutter and depersonalize. Creating a blank canvas for your potential buyer, so they can see themselves living in the home, is very important. Painting the walls a safe, neutral colour is also beneficial. Fix any minor issues like loose door handles or missing light bulbs. You’d be surprised by the negative effect a loose door handle can have on a potential buyer touring your home.

And last but not least, clean your home from top to bottom! Make sure your shower tiles are sparkling and your kitchen floors shine. This will also help with odours from cooking or pets.

Price the Home Right

You may not have quite as many buyers touring the home as you would if you were listing it in the spring. Luckily, the buyers that you do get are more likely to be serious buyers, but they won’t take you seriously if your home is overpriced. A good real estate agent should be able to help you set the right price for your home based on comparable sales nearby. Take their word for it, even if you thought your home would sell for much more. These professionals know what they’re talking about.

Selling your home in the summer is easier than you might think. Buyers are looking for the right home at the right price. Families have more time to get out and start looking at properties, so they can be settled by the time school starts in the Fall. And the weather alone makes house hunting a more enjoyable experience. When you are careful about showing people all of the things that make your home great, you’re likely to find people who are interested in your home.