Traditionally, September 1 marks an increase in 'for sale' signs going up, as the warmer weather brings sellers out of hibernation.
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While current restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic may affect the amount of listings during this period, there will nonetheless be owners looking to sell their property.
Open inspections are banned regardless of where in NSW they are being held, with agents restricted to holding one-on-one inspections.
Property investors based in regional NSW can travel throughout the state to inspect prospective purchases under tweaked public health orders.
So if you are ready to sell over the spring period, there are a series of inexpensive ideas to prepare your property for listing at this time.
Or if you're restless while in lockdown and aren't currently looking to sell your property, these tips can nonetheless provide a project to spruce up your home and relieve some of the boredom.
Angie Dennis is managing partner and interior designer at the Wollongong-based Property Styling Corp.
Even in lockdown times, she said styling of the home was crucial for sellers.
"We're not using styling as a tool to sell your property, as we know that we (in the Illawarra) are really closely situated to Sydney, so we're getting a lot of Sydney overflow," she said.
"You're going to sell your property, (but) it's for the price you're going to sell.
"The homes are still selling, but when we get that property presented to its absolute maximum, there's data to show you get more clicks online, which means you're getting more people interested in looking at your property, and that competition is pushing prices up."
She provided some tips for preparing your home for a spring time sale:
*Get to know the trends. "Be aware of what's going on in the magazines or interior blogs, and look at what current interior design trends are. Really become aware of what's going on now."
*It starts from the kerb. "Ask yourself, is my concrete driveway cracked, old, dirty? A little bit of elbow grease and $150 in paving paint can really give that driveway that fresh kerb appeal."
*Remove a lot of the personal decoration. "Often I turn up and there's things like gargoyles and gnomes sitting in people's gardens. Removing those elements that don't appeal to a broad market is important."
*That first ten seconds is crucial. "The first ten seconds that a buyer looks at your property, or enters your property, is where emotional connection is formed.
"I always speak to our clients about focusing on the entrance, and the rooms that come off those first ten seconds. For say bigger, two-storey homes, it's really nailing that first ground level, because that's where you're getting the buyers in. DIY tips would be to really pare back on polarising colours like purples and reds."
*Avoid "cold colours" on walls. "There's a colour at the moment that everybody's painting with called Lexicon Quarter. It's got a bit of a black tone in it, and it's very chilly, so it has that feeling where you're walking into a dentist.
"I always analyze what makes people feel happy, and that's usually a light, warm space. We want ambience when buyers are walking in, and that means staying away from anything that gets quite cold and clinical."
TAFE NSW Yallah landscape teacher Rob Wardlaw agreed that first appearances are crucial when prospective buyers visit a home.
"It often sets a precedent for the rest of the place when people are looking," he said.
"Having that good street aspect, that attractive appearance from the street is very important."
He said headed into spring, people were thinking about the space outside their homes, including how to spruce up their garden.
"Not only that, a lot of people are spending the time and putting back into their place more because they're spending more time there," he said.
Mr Wardlaw said there were inexpensive ways, such as painting your fence, that can help increase a property's appeal.
"Get rid of your winter weeds - weeds don't take a holiday," he said.
"Get in there, get the weeds taken care of in your garden, and re-mulch to stop them coming back. And mulching has the added benefit of looking good and neat.
"Clean out gutters too, and prune your hedges back.
"Get some colour in your garden as well. If you haven't got many flowering plants in the front of your property, maybe look at putting some in."
Mr Wardlaw said if you're seeking inspiration, check out blogs, magazines and social media, or even look around your neighbourhood (without breaching COVID restrictions).
"If you wanted to theme your garden, whether it be a tropical theme or native-style garden, go on the internet, have a look and work towards something like that," he said.