Ask an Agent: Tips for Listing in the Spring Market
by Grace Cassidy
April 2025
As we enter into spring, it’s likely that more homeowners will consider putting their properties on the market. Spring and summer are generally considered the best time of year to sell—a report published last year found that homes sold in May generated a 13.1 percent seller premium. And with the warming weather and landscaping in bloom, spring is an ideal time for buyers to visit open houses and imagine a new life in a new home.
As we head into this busy real estate season, we asked Douglas Elliman agents from around the country to share their expertise and experience on the spring market.
Fresh First Impressions
In today’s real estate market, high-quality photos are critical for making a sale. According to the National Association of Realtors 2024 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, “all buyers use the internet in their search,” with 43 percent of buyers reporting that searching for properties online was the first step in their process. It’s essential then to make sure your home is camera-ready.
“My number one tip for spring is to hire a professional yard person to prepare the listing for photos and showings,” Austin-based agent Ryan Rogers suggests. “They can do things like trim back trees and shrubs, remove dead plants, and plant new plants that are colorful for spring, especially at main walkways and the front door.”
Finish up with a good yard mowing, edging, and fresh black mulch in all beds and around trees, Rogers adds.
“First impressions are the most important, and walking up to a beautifully prepared yard is key for spring selling.”
Seasons Cleanings
They don’t call it “spring cleaning” for nothing.
“Declutter every room before taking any photos and before showings,” Beverly Hills agent Carrie Lewis offers. “Minimize all unnecessary items on the floors and surface areas including personal photos. As a seller, you want the buyer to connect with the house itself and not feel like they are a guest in someone else’s home.”
Decluttering can also make the home feel more spacious, allowing buyers to move through rooms, open cabinets, and inspect architectural details with ease.
The task can also help with your own move. After all, many people like to edit down their belongings to make the arduous task of moving simpler.
Make It (Like) New
In addition to tidying and making the home look presentable, sellers might consider making some minor adjustments to make their home look like new.
“Look at your house as if you were a buyer,” Vero Beach, Fla., agent Sally Daley says. “Buyers broadly want new or like-new—and they don’t want to inherit your projects. Make your house look as new as possible down to paint, door handles, light fixtures, and the front door and you’ll be rewarded by standing apart from your competition.”
When trying to make a house look like new, touch-ups and cosmetic edits can provide a great return on investment.
“I think the spring market is especially important to capitalize on,” says Palm Beach agent Jack Rooney. “I always encourage sellers to get the house ‘market ready’ prior to going to market. Whether that be staging, touch-up painting, or grabbing fresh flowers from the garden to enhance the inside of the home.”
Well-presented homes often sell quicker and often for more money than comparable properties in the area. In fact, a staged home can sell 30 times faster than a similar home that hasn’t been staged. Staging may even boost a home’s sales price by 20 percent.
“I also think it's very important for sellers to trust their agent and listen to the feedback prior to going to market,” Rooney adds. “When sellers listen to agents from a market timing perspective and getting the house ready perspective, typically you get the desired result. The old saying, “You have to spend a little money to make a little money,” is so true when getting a house ready.”
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