In most markets, spring is the most important time of year for buying or selling a home. However, summer can be just as lucrative a time to start your real estate journey.

So how should you plan for this summer market? And how does it differ from a traditional spring market? Below are the best tips for both buyers and sellers.

Tips for buyers

Bargain hunt

While a large number of days on market might usually have a negative connotation, remember that many houses sitting without offers may have listed early in the Spring selling cycle. They may be perfectly nice, move-in ready homes that simply hit the market at the wrong time.

At the same time, due to the economic downturn, many homeowners in your area may be moving to find a new job or to get out from under their current debt load. This may make them highly motivated and looking for a quick sale.

In either case, you may be able to negotiate somewhat more aggressively than you normally would. However, this depends on the inventory in your market and the pent-up demand from buyers in your area. Talk with your real estate professional to discuss current comps for the neighborhoods you’re most interested in.

Think logistics

It’s easy to be charmed by a home in summer, when it’s at its lightest and brightest. You’ll no doubt imagine long days on the deck, grilling out with socially distanced friends, and plenty of backyard playtime for the kids. Remember, however, that fall will turn to winter, and those indoor spaces will once again become the most important parts of the home.

Make sure that the home’s interior works for the way your family lives now. Do you all spend your time gathered together in the family room or do you each like your own individual space? Do you and your husband both work from home? Do you each need a home office, preferably far away from each other? Thinking through the way you and your family live each day is an important part of making sure you are all comfortable and productive.

Consider upkeep

An elaborate garden, manicured shrubbery, and other impressive landscaping may give a home tremendous appeal. However, if you’re not an experienced gardener, will you be able to maintain that look? How much will it cost to hire a professional to do so?

Consider the home you’re looking at from every angle, including upkeep, maintenance, and utility costs throughout the year. Those lush green trees will drop a lot of leaves in the fall. Those high ceilings may present a heating challenge come winter. Think through the pros and cons of every season when you are evaluating your new home’s appeal.

Tips for sellers

Accentuate the outdoors

During summer, outdoor spaces become one of the home’s most effective selling points. Take a look at your existing outdoor spaces. Do they look as good as they could? The grass may be perfect, but how do the hardscapes look? Consider pressure washing paths, patios, and driveways to make your outdoor spaces look their best.

Want to spruce up your outdoor spaces even more? A new patio umbrella, newly painted porch furniture, or some easy-care plants may take your porch or deck from good to great. These affordable updates can really improve your home’s curb appeal without breaking the bank.

Lighten up

Before photography, video tours, or in-person tours, open every curtain and blind, turn on all the lamps, and flood your home with light. Replace heavy draperies with light and gauzy linen. This is the time to open up the window coverings and let the sun shine in. If you have overgrown trees or shrubbery, consider having them strategically trimmed to let in even more light and enhance your home’s exterior spaces.

Staging ideas

Brightening up your home’s interior doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. Consider the following staging strategies:

• Replace dark throws and cushions with light, bright, summery colors that pop.
• Focus on decluttering to make your space feel as light as possible.
• Replace heavy, dark rugs with bare floors or natural fiber rugs.
• Replace dark, formal artwork with light, bright, unframed canvases.
• Consider the air quality in your home. Run air purifiers or open windows wide for a breath of fresh air.
• Don’t limit yourself to visual cues. Consider summertime scents of citrus or greenery in candles or fragrance diffusers.