When it comes to selling your home, you'll know that Spring is generally one of the most popular times of the year to buy and sell because buyers want to settle in before Christmas.

As Spring approaches, there are a few things you need to prepare in order to ensure your home stands out from the crowd.

Here are our top tips for preparing your home for the Spring selling season.

1) Declutter your space

It’s time to Spring clean (literally)! Start by getting rid of any unwanted items you may have lying around. Unused furniture, unworn clothing and children's toys all add up to create a look that may not be appealing to potential home buyers. Consider donating or selling your extra items to declutter your home, because buyers desire storage and space, and will favour a home they can easily visualise as their own. Decluttering makes your home feel larger and showing off your space and storage will allow buyers to easily envision themselves moving in.

2) Air it all out

After winter, homes have a habit of getting a bit musty due to being closed up against the cold and wet weather. Open all your windows and let in some fresh, clean air. This is also a great time to keep an eye out for any mould that may have built up on your windows and window frames over winter. When selling, first impressions count. Air out your home for at least an hour before the inspection, so it feels fresh as soon as buyers walk through the door.

3) Apply a fresh lick of paint

Renovating doesn’t have to be hard or extensive. Giving your home an aesthetic makeover by applying a fresh coat of paint is one of the quickest, easiest and cheapest ways to give your home a new lease on life. It’s also a great time to think about changing the colour scheme of your home to a neutral palette to get it sale-ready. While you may love bright colours in your home, neutral colours will help your home sell a lot faster. A fresh coat of paint can also increase the value of your home.

4) Organise repairs

If there are any repairs that have been waiting to be completed, now is the time to put them at the top of your list. Take a walk through your home and make a note of any repairs that need to be fixed. Ensuring that your home is in good condition will help make selling it that much easier. Things such as faulty light switches, leaky taps and damage to walls or windows will need to be fixed before you open your home to prospective buyers.

5) Update your decor

If your home is filled with outdated decor and themes, it might be time to update these before you put it on the market. While some styles are timeless, there’s no doubt that certain trends don’t always appeal to prospective buyers. Try updating the decor to a modern, neutral theme that showcases the best features of your home. An appealing aesthetic is so important when attracting potential buyers as they are more likely to form a positive emotional response towards your home if it looks fabulous and inviting. Updating things like cushions and small decor is a really affordable way to refresh your space. If money is not a concern, consider hiring a professional interior stylist to stage and style your home for selling.

6) Let in the natural light

Natural light is a great way to showcase your home to potential buyers. While often overlooked, a home’s lighting can make a big impact on a buyer’s first impression of a home. Before your first viewing, consider how to let in as much natural light as possible. Whether it’s opening curtains, raising blinds or even trimming some trees or bushes outside, natural light is a great way to get your home Spring sale ready. A poorly lit home appears cold, uninviting and small. A home that is well-lit appears warm, inviting and spacious.

7) Depersonalise your home

When it comes to selling your home, it's a good idea to remove your personal items from view. This admittedly can be difficult because It’s not the first thing you think of when getting your home ready for sale, but potential buyers want to envision their own personal items in the home, not yours. Removing items such as family photos will allow people to picture the home as theirs and give them a good idea of what it would feel like to live there.

A bit of time and effort now will ensure that your home is looking its best in time for the Spring selling season. With so many people listing their homes, it’s always a good idea to undertake measures to make sure that your home shines above the rest!

Get in touch with the team at your local Nelson Alexander office for help standing out from the crowd and selling your Melbourne property this spring.