6 Tips for Selling Your San Diego County Home Fast This Summer

By Susan Mackey

Source

Summer is a hot time on the real estate market in San Diego County. It's the time when most families are looking to move, and also when the competition to sell homes heats up. As a homeowner, you want to do everything you can to make your house stand out. If you've got time to wait for the perfect offer, great! But if you need to get out of town as soon as possible, check out these six tips for selling your home fast this summer.

1. Keep It Green

A lush lawn will not only raise the curb appeal of your home, it will also draw people to your doorstep. A beautiful landscape shows potential buyers you care about upkeep. A proper summer lawn care routine includes mowing, watering, and applying a quick release fertilizer will keep the lawn green. Outdoor living space is in high demand in the San Diego area since people want a comfortable place to enjoy the sunshine. Making sure the outside looks as nice as the inside is essential.

2. Know the Value

You want the highest price for your house, but knowing what your home is worth is vital when pricing it. Your real estate agent will help, but it's good to check out other homes in your neighborhood to stay competitive. Pricing too high will stall the selling process. Take the emotion out of the process, so you don't end up dropping the price too much when it comes time to negotiate.

3. Stage Exterior Areas

Outdoor living spaces extend the useable square footage of your home. Staging these areas for ultimate comfort and style is an excellent way to sell your home fast this summer. Place some comfortable outdoor furniture on the patio along with side tables to show how relaxing the backyard can be. An umbrella to provide shade will help showcase the deck or patio even on the warmer days. Finally, clean up any clutter. Garden tools and kids' toys need to be stored away.

4. Plant Color

Most landscapes in the San Diego area are beautiful but consider bumping up your yard to the next level with some pops of color. Native flowers, like Showy Penstemon and Brittlebush, are great to use since they will attract butterflies and honey bees. They also require little maintenance or water.something your real estate agent will be happy to point out at your first open house! Place a few pots of flowers around the patio or plant a row of them along the main walkway. The more colorful, the better to make your home stand out.

5. Hire Some Help

You'll have a lot of people walking through your home when you put it on the market. Make sure that your home is always clean and in top condition. Consider hiring some help with indoor and outdoor maintenance. Hiring a temporary housekeeper to come in once a week to keep things clean will be well worth the investment. A local landscaper can trim the lawn and pull any new weeds that pop up, making sure the yard's always looking pristine. A handyman can help by painting the front door and touching up the trim. Having your home ready at a moment's notice is essential to getting more showings and more offers.

6. Take Down Personal Items

Many real estate agents will tell you to take down the personal items within your home. Buyers want to picture their belongings in the house. Family photos and knickknacks should go into storage. Put a few pieces of furniture into storage as well to make the rooms look more spacious. Making your home inviting and warm is essential and easy to do with some generic items that could belong to anyone.

You want your home to be as green as possible to bring in as much green as possible! Proper landscaping can bring in as much as 12 percent more on that final offer. These six tips will help you sell your home fast and for top dollar.

Susan Mackey is an interior designer and home stager as well as a freelance writer who focuses on the latest home fashion trends. She loves taking older homes and turning them into the envy of the neighborhood.

Rachael Baihn