It’s that time of year again- The return of the Philly Spring Clean Up! Each year Philadelphians gather together to clean up their town. Just listen to some of these stats from the 2011 Philly Spring Clean Up:

• 12,000 Volunteers
•  1,240,360 pounds of trash removed
• 28 parks and 17 recreation centers cleaned

(Stats from philly.com)

As a Philadelphian, it always gives me a good feeling to see so many people care about our town. And as a Philadelphia realtor, I always advise my clients looking to sell a home in Philly, to take advantage of this time of year. Traditionally, Spring is the busiest time for real estate, with more buyers coming to the market and getting serious about finding a home. But that also means there are more homes on the market and potentially less money in your pocket! Giving your Philadelphia home a thorough cleaning in time for Spring can also be a great chance for you to get  your property ready to sell. The right kind of minor improvements can make all the difference in terms of foot traffic and bringing in more potential buyers. Here’s a few easy tips for how Spring cleaning can sell your Philadelphia home:

• The Devil is in the Details: I’ll admit it- When I clean my home, there are certain dark corners and hidden spaces I tend to overlook. But here’s the difference- If you’re selling your Philly home, potential buyers will be poking around behind the fridge and in every closet. While you’re already cleaning your home, be sure to put some elbow grease into those hard to reach places.
• Shiny, Happy People:  Springtime is bright, green and lively. Your home should reflect this. Make sure you clean all your windows, as well as add a few smaller touches (potted plants, a bright coat of paint on the doors) that reflect the season. Minor projects like this will make a huge difference for when you take pictures of your home to showcase it online.
• Beautiful inside, Beautiful Outside: In a city as walkable as Philadelphia, the most important improvements you can make is on your home’s exterior. Many of the buyers that I work with will spend Saturdays and Sundays touring a new neighborhood they’re interested in, just getting a feel for the area. If they see the “For Sale” sign out front of your property, but hate the look of the home, they won’t bother seeing the inside.
• It’s Not Your Home: While you’re scrubbing the floors and dusting the window sills, Spring cleaning also gives you a chance to “de-personalize” your home. Removing items such as family portraits allows your potential buyers to imagine themselves starting their new lives in your property.

Want to learn more about selling your Philadelphia home? Email me: mickey@themickeygroup.com