Top Tips for Selling Your Florida Home in the Summer

Florida summers are known for warm temperatures, sun showers, and stunning sunsets. The months of May until September are also considered “off-season” as our snowbirds are typically spending this time up north. However, even though much of the winter population is away, summer is still a prime time for buying and selling residential properties, second only to the spring. In fact, if you look at selling trends for the last three years, April to July are peak months for home sales.

So just because your neighbors are away for the summer, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t put every effort into presenting your Sarasota home for sale as pristine as possible. Here, we are offering advice and top tips for selling in the summer months.   Lovely landscaping and Curb Appeal Afternoon showers are a normal part of summer life in southwest Florida and that means plants grow quickly and lushly. The good news is that it will keep you from having to irrigate your yard but it's important to keep it under control with regular maintenance. Mow your lawn once a week and be sure to keep the blades sharp or else it's like cutting your own hair with a dull pair of scissors. Also, regularly trim trees and hedges as the summer rains will give them a mind of their own. If you like to garden, choose Florida-friendly plantings for their positive affect on the ground and surface waters and the natural Florida environment. Educate yourself more on the Florida yard with this helpful website from the University of Florida: http://fyn.ifas.ufl.edu/homeowner.htm A Pristine Pool Deck When showing your home in the summer, potential buyers are especially keen on envisioning life by the pool. Dirt, pollen, and rust from your grill or patio furniture can add eye sores to the pool area. Take extra care to make it look resort-ready.

Use a household detergent and water in a pump sprayer to remove dirt and debris from the screen cage. Rinse with the hose. For the deck area, spray your plants first with water to give them a layer of protection. Then, use a common household degreaser to tackle the dirt and grime but be sure to dilute it with water. It's good to do a general cleaning once a month and then go for the pressure cleaner when you need an extra thorough level of attack.   Keep it Cool Roger Morris, Manager of the Punta Gorda Burnt Store and Taylor Street offices offered this summer temperature tip: “For sellers whose homes are on the market during the summer months the temptation to keep the thermostat at a higher setting to save a little money is not a good idea. Bear in mind that making the home as attractive as possible is a seller’s best strategy and most important responsibility before showings. This not only includes aesthetics, but also comfort. If buyers enter a home that feels hot and humid, they won’t stay long and will have an unpleasant memory, if only subconscious, of their experience in the home.

“It takes a few moments for an agent to open the lock box and access the home, so buyers are already starting to sweat even before they walk into the house. If the home is cool and comfortable, the buyers will instantly feel happy as they walk in. On the other hand, if the house is hot and humid, the buyer’s first impression will be disappointment.”   A Sampling of Summer Refreshments

Never underestimate the power of good food at open houses or showings. “Cooking has been a great tool to get people to communicate and express themselves more freely,” explained Marta Diaz Hudson, known as the Foodie Realtor with Michael Saunders & Company. With her own cooking-inspired YouTube channel, Marta often uses delicious treats to connect with customers. “We all need to eat," she explained. "And most people like good, healthy foods.” Marta has included three recipes ideas to add flavor to any open house:

A refreshing drink: Mojito Limeade A cooling savory crisp: Cool Cucumber Bites A sinful chocolate sweet: Sweet and Divine Brownie Bites Click here for Marta's recipes: Summer Recipes for Realtors' Open House

  Have flexible showing hours Buyer schedules aren't necessarily convenient to daytime showings. International buyers here on holiday try to pack a lot into a little time. Plus, with daylight hours lasting easily until 8:30pm, the temptation to view another Sarasota home for sale after dinner is hard to ignore. Do your best to make your home available for a walk-through with your Realtor even if the hour seems late.   Talk to your Realtor For more tips on making your home more attractive in the summer months, speak with your Realtor. Not only are they experts on how to best present your home, they will have the local contacts - from yard maintenance to handymen - to help you accomplish your summer goals.   If you have a home and are ready to sell, contact Michael Saunders & Company at 888-552-5228 or select a Michael Saunders & Company real estate agent.