Around 60% of all homes are bought and sold during the warmer months so if you are planning on selling your home between now and the end of February – the clock is ticking. Even before you meet with an agent spend some time prepping your home and making the most of your outdoor living spaces – as this is the season to showcase the great outdoors.

Here are some essential steps to take now to be sale ready this summer.

Make all necessary repairs.

If you want to sell your home this summer the first step is to fix all the necessary and obvious repairs. Buyers will look through your home with a fine tooth comb and you don’t want them to be put off by a creaky gate, dirty windows and leaking gutters.

So walk around the outside of your home with the eyes of a buyer and make a list of the things that need to be fixed. Start at the front of the home, does the gate need to be repaired, does the front fence need to be repainted, are there any issues with the path, is the front door in good condition, how are the windows, gutters?….you get the idea.

You’ll save time and money by fixing any issues on the property as you don’t want to have to negotiate your price down over minor repair issues.

Make the most of your curb appeal

Many potential buyers do a ‘drive past’ a property before they come in for an inspection – they are seeing if the property looks any good and worth their time. This means that first impressions are critical and this starts at the curb.

Landscape your back garden

Aussies love being outside and one of the key benefits of selling in Summer is you can promote your outside area as another entire living space. This creates a whole new room in the eyes of a buyer and a major selling feature in summer.

If you are lucky enough to have a back garden spend some time weeding the garden beds, keep the lawn mowed, trim any bushes and trees and plant flowering plants in the garden beds.

Repair your deck

If you have a deck – wash it down or water blast it to remove any grime. If there is damage, make any necessary repairs – drive any protruding nails flush with the surface of the board or replace them with deck screws. Repair or replace boards that are badly deteriorated and sand any rough spots to stop splinters. Once it’s dried apply a sealer or stain the deck – you’ll be surprised how great it looks…and your buyers will love it.

Maximize your courtyard space

If you have a courtyard it is important to maximise this space. The first step may be to create a focal point like a water feature, statue or urn. This should be placed at the furthest point from the entrance so your buyers vision is drawn a distance, giving a sense of space.

You can also give an illusion of space by paving the entire area with large pavers (500x500mm) to make the ground look wider and less busy. Don’t use any dark colours in your courtyard structures as these reduce the perception of space.

Add some Outdoor Furniture

If you don’t have an outdoor setting it is a good idea is to buy some nice outdoor furniture. A table and chairs, a BBQ or an outdoor lounge setting looks great and helps people envision themselves sitting back with a glass of wine or a beer entertaining friends. If you already have outdoor furniture make sure it is clean and in good condition.

Enhance the entrance

Spruce up the entry way and the front door. Add a welcome mat, make sure the front door is clean or consider painting it if it is looking a bit tired.

If you have sufficient space, place a range of matching terracotta pots with plants against the wall near your entrance. For the average sized doorway use the pots up to a metre high. If your home is an older style, aged classic cone shaped pots with a rolled rim containing colourful flowers, like geraniums, will give a traditional welcome feeling. For more modern homes tall angular pots that taper downwards are very popular. Architectural plans like succulents are also good as they create a dramatic effect.

Try and keep everything symmetrical. If you are using pots and plants to add interest, put one either side of the entrance or you might like to hang two matching lanterns for a warm glow. The trick is to keep it simple and not clutter the space.