Summer is a very busy time for real estate sales around Albany and Corvallis, so how do you make your listing stand out from the crowd? The preparation that you do before you list – including getting your home open house ready – can pay major dividends when it's time to compete for the attention of buyers. Our real estate agents have more on how to get your home open house ready this summer.

• Make the Most of Your Landscaping
  One reason summer is a popular time to list homes is that it's often the time when landscaping shines the most. So it's fitting to start by making sure that your lawn looks great, your yard is clean, and trees/shrubs are perfectly pruned. If you already have a garden, make sure your flowers and plants are looking their best. If not, consider adding some colorful plants at key locations, like near the home's entrance, in order to add appeal and direct focus to the parts of the home that matter most to buyers.

• Plan for the Right Time of Day
  Summer is a good time for open houses in part because buyers often have more free time in their schedules than they do during other parts of the year. However, you'll still want to be careful to schedule your open house at a time that will maximize interest. Often, this will be a late afternoon or early evening time slot during the summer. That gives people who are working time to make it after work and allows you to showcase your property when natural lighting is at its best.

• Keep the Home Cool and Refreshing
  No matter what time you schedule your open house, there's a chance that any summer open house will be taking place on a day with hot, humid weather. While you don't want to turn your home into a walk-in fridge, keeping the AC on will make the property that much more appealing for buyers, especially when they're walking inside after spending some time in the sun. Providing cold water or other summer refreshments can be a nice finishing touch.

• Highlight Outdoor Living Spaces
  Buyers in a summer mindset will likely be quite interested in the outdoor spaces around your home, especially if you have a large deck, spacious backyard, pool/spa, or outdoor kitchen and dining space. Whatever outdoor spaces your home might have, make sure that they're clean, the furniture is well-maintained, and the spaces look as inviting as possible.

• Clean and Declutter
  Some open house tips apply during every season, and this is certainly one of them. A thorough cleaning and decluttering of the home is crucial before an open house. Cleaning is essential for making a positive first impression, and decluttering is the key to helping buyers imagine their lives in the home.

• Tackle Minor Maintenance Issues
  While major maintenance issues are their own category which goes beyond open house prep, tackling those small, nagging maintenance issues is a great idea before buyers arrive. Little things like leaky faucets, damaged paint, or doors/cabinets that don't close quite right may be small in isolation but can really add up in the minds of buyers. Many of these projects can be handled DIY with little stress, so they're well worth tackling before an open house.

Searching for the right team to help you sell your home? Our team is here to help with all of your real estate needs. Contact us to buy and sell homes throughout the Albany and Corvallis, OR, area.