May 26th 2022
Inside & Out: How to upgrade your home for sale (or for yourself) this spring
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Another Canadian winter has come and gone, and the warm weather is finally settling in across the country. If you’re like us, right now you’re inspired by all things spring and enjoying the indoors and outdoors to maximum effect. This could also mean you're thinking about ways to exercise a little TLC on your home interior or exterior.
Whether you’re staging your home in preparation to sell it, finding ways to maximize your home appraisal, or looking to stay put and enjoy your revitalized space, we’ve got you: our staging and design experts have some basic (and relatively inexpensive) tips for you to spruce up your home—inside and out.
Consider this your go-to guide on how to stage a home to sell (or to stay) this spring.
ON THE INSIDE:
Clean, clean, and clean some more
Spring cleaning is a must to help your home look and feel its best. Some simple ways to add a spring sheen to your abode:
- Donate or sell the things you don’t need or use anymore to declutter your space.
- Leave every surface sparkling by washing down floors, walls, doors, light switches, and panels.
- Don’t forget the harder to reach areas, like ceiling fans and behind your major appliances.
Add a little green
Plants are an easy resource for freshening up the look and feel of a room. Here are a few simple tips to maximize greenery in your space:
- Add some potted greenery that requires minimal watering, such as succulents (like cacti and aloe vera).
- When choosing flowers, real ones will always impress but silk blooms are long-lasting and lower maintenance.
- To add further visual pleasure to your space, opt for glass vases and bright coloured petals that match the colours of your existing wall art, throws, and pillows—spring favourites like tulips come in nearly every shade under the sun, so you're bound to find a few that work best in your space.
Remember: good smells sell
When spring-ifying your home for sale (or for yourself!), it’s important to consider all of the senses, including smell. Some ways to optimize the olfactory:
- Bring spring’s fragrant and fresh air inside your home simply by opening your windows.
- Or, try an essential oil diffuser with calming and rejuvenating scents like lavender or eucalyptus.
- You can use candles, too, but aim to avoid scents that smack of winter and fall (like cinnamon); instead, go for summery notes like citrus or floral (and keep in mind: lit candles may not be the safest choice for home-staging scenarios, and could function better as unlit, pleasant-smelling pieces).
Get colourful
Spring is the right time to be bright and bold with your design accents. This is as simple as adding vivid throw pillows and side tables, or colourful wall pieces and eye-catching prints in unique frames.
Also think about opening up your space, even in a visual way. Make smaller areas of your home appear larger by opting for lighter paint colours and fabrics, and by adding mirrors and glass accents. If you’re adding accents for home-staging purposes, the extra space can appeal to a wider audience of buyers.
Change your hardware
If you can, new or upgraded appliances can increase home appraisal value exponentially. Even quick, more inexpensive hacks like changing your light fixtures, or the knobs and handles on your kitchen cabinets or doors, can breathe new life into a living space, giving it a ‘newness’ that wasn’t there before.
Use the best lighting
Take advantage of the longer days to show your home in its best, natural light. When staging, remember to roll up the blinds or even swap them for sheer curtains. In rooms that don’t have as many windows, invest in higher-watt bulbs (or the best and brightest of LEDs!). If you have the time, resources, and savings to do so, you might even consider bigger renovations like knocking out a dividing wall; this could widen and brighten the appearance of your home, and add more real estate to your floor space.
ON THE OUTSIDE:
Make your backyard the place to be
Many Canadians dream of spending their highly-coveted summer months in the great outdoors; if you’re looking to sell your home, consider tapping into that dream by making your outdoor space a place prospective buyers can see themselves luxuriating on a warm day.
Try adding stylish, quality décor like a patio table and chairs, or even an outdoor sofa, to bolster the effect. Also: a hammock adds extra relaxation vibes to any backyard or balcony.
Spend time on landscaping
The muck of winter can instantly age a home (and not in a good way). That’s why it’s important to clear any debris, like leaves and old shrubs, and rent or buy a power washer to get rid of the dirt the snowy season left behind.
Bigger additions like new fencing or a pool will increase your home value, but quick landscaping hacks like weed removal and new mulch are easy fixes.
Don’t have a green thumb? You can always leave it to the professionals and hire a landscaper—trust us: it will be worth it in the long run.
Organize outside, too
It’s easy to overlook your outdoor storage spaces, so make a note of decluttering your shed or garage. Add some shelving and bins or baskets to make these spaces neat, tidy and buyer-ready.
Go for curb appeal
It’s a given, but it matters: make your doorstep more welcoming by painting your front door a notable new colour (violets and blues are trending for spring 2022). Have some fun making your own welcome sign, or try switching the doormat for something fresher now that winter boots are packed away for the season. A tip: wreaths don’t just have to be for the holidays, pick a spring-themed one to add some visual cheer.
If DIY isn’t your thing, or you’re simply short on time, don't worry: there are many staging and design experts to choose from in the Toronto and Vancouver areas that can make it easier for you to increase your home value this spring with some simple touches. Curious what your home value is right now? We can help with that, too! Check out our appraisal tool to learn more.
And: happy spring!
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