Spring is a good time to spruce up your house, list your house, or go house shopping. It's also the time of year when the greatest number of buyers are in the market, and when sellers can get great prices for their homes. Spring is also the time when the greatest number of listings hit the market. If you or anyone you know is looking to sell, now or sometime in the future, here are some ways to make sure your home stands out against the competition and how to get your home market-ready for the real estate market’s busiest time of the year.

Begin with Your Curb Appeal. Whether you're looking to update your home now or preparing to list in the future, the outside of your home will be the first thing potential buyers see, and you only get one chance to make a first impression. Touch up trim paint on windows and doors. Power wash the siding and roof if those areas need attention. Repair stoops and walkways. Spruce up the yard — mow the lawn, trim bushes, and clear away dead plants and yard debris. Remove toys, tools, and lawn furniture. You want to create a welcoming environment, enticing buyers to come inside and imagine the home as theirs. A well-presented exterior also shows buyers your home has been well maintained. Experts say a beautifully landscaped front yard can make any home seem more charming, and potentially help it sell faster.

Declutter and Organize the Spaces Inside. Spring is known for being the season of cleaning and organizing, and even if you're not in the market to sell, decluttering now can save you time and headaches in the future. Go from room to room and declutter. Discard or put away newspapers, magazines, catalogs, and mailers. Remove family photos and personal memorabilia from walls, and any extra items cluttering up shelves. Decluttering is more than tidying up — it’s about creating a sense of space. Remove extra furniture, it only makes rooms seem crowded. Take clothes out of closets. Stuffed closets look smaller than they really are. And don’t forget to declutter and organize the attic, basement, and garage spaces. Put items into storage that you don’t throw out or donate. The goal is to make the home seem spacious and clean.

Focus on the Kitchen and Bathrooms. Giving these areas some extra TLC will make your home feel more refreshed, plus these rooms are focal points for most buyers. How they react to your kitchen and bathrooms will often influence their opinion of the entire home. Give these rooms a deep cleaning to be sure they make a great impression. Take extra appliances and extraneous items off kitchen countertops. Neaten up and organize pantry shelves, kitchen cabinets, and medicine cabinets. Scrub grout lines around tile, sinks, tubs, and showers. Polish all plumbing and lighting fixtures. There is nothing like a sparkling kitchen and bathroom to make a positive impression.

Trust In Pros. If you or anyone you know is in the market to sell or buy, a real estate agent is a major key to success. Finding an agent you trust now will help you in the future if or when you are ready to buy or sell. Agents can advise you on decluttering, staging, and dialing up your home’s buyer appeal. They can refer you to contractors, stagers, and photographers you may need. Agents can give you insights into market trends that will give your home an advantage in your market. Most importantly, the agents negotiate for you, direct you through all the steps in the buying or selling process, and basically minimizes any stress that might turn up. Interview a few agents and partner with the one you most trust.

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