It's Spring: Time to Spruce Up Your House?

Ah, spring: a time of rebirth, renewal, rejuvenation and...renovation? This time of year, we'll be enjoying longer, warmer days and soaking up the syrupy sunlight as the smell of a thousand braais fills the air.

Whereas celebrated British poet T.S. Eliot used "the smell of steaks in passageways" as a metaphor for the drabness and solitude of city life in the 1910s, the alluring perfume of meat cooking is something so beautifully and uniquely South African and heralds the start of the sunny season.

This might also just be the ideal time to spruce up your house and patch up that crack in the wall and fix that leaky faucet that's been bothering you for months, especially if you're planning to sell in the near future.

"Blossom by blossom the Spring begins" wrote Charles Algernon Swinburne...and coat of paint by coat of paint you're adding value to your home and paving the way for a healthy return on what is most probably your greatest investment.

With warmer weather on the way, many a prospective buyer is likely to find their eye wandering in the direction of the pool (assuming, of course, that you have one), so pay special attention to making this area look clear, clean and pristine. In sunny South Africa - boasting around 2 500 hours of sunshine per year - swimming pools are a huge drawing card, so, as a seller, investing in its upkeep is wise.

In staying with the outdoors, lush lawns are like nature's welcome mat, and now is a great time to get to using that green thumb by planting a tree or two or even just making sure that your garden looks well-kept and welcoming.

Of course, prospective buyers will be most interested in the home's interior and, with the kitchen being the focal point of almost every showing, it's a good spot to start any renovations you plan on doing. There's lot you can do in this area - without necessarily breaking the bank - for example upgrading countertops, painting or replacing cabinet doors and even retiling the kitchen for a fresh and modern look.

Bathrooms can be beautified by adding stainless steel taps, re-grouting tiles and applying a fresh coat of paint, which can completely transform this integral space from drab to fab.

While spring is a markedly warmer season, we are fortunate in South Africa to enjoy sunshine virtually all year-round and, with a growing global awareness around energy conservation and protecting the environment while simultaneously driving down utility costs, now is also the perfect time to make your home more energy-efficient, for example by installing ceiling insulation, geyser blankets and solar water heaters. These are all benefits that your friendly real estate agent can list when marketing your home.

Finally, security remains high on the public agenda and, while crime overall has decreased by around 4.7% from last year, there is increased concern that the economic pressures (such as job losses) wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic may lead to a resurgence in crime. Therefore, installing additional security and access control such as alarm systems, CCTV and gate automation may well boost the value of your home and make it more appealing to buyers.

Need some more tips on getting your house sales-ready? Contact us today