Each of the four seasons supplies home sellers with different obstacles to overcome when preparing for an open house. Fortunately, house tours tend to increase when the weather gets warmer and prospective buyers are more apt to make the trip. Therefore, familiarity with springtime perks and complications ahead of time will help your open house run smoothly and successfully!

1. The most common complication to prepare for is poor weather conditions. Spring is a random-weather season, especially if you live in the Midwest! One day could be sunny, the next rainy and the one after that snowy! Since rain is the most likely crisis, make sure you have a doormat or a throw rug for people to dry their shoes. You don’t want mud dragged onto your newly cleaned carpeting! Also, consider providing a few umbrellas by the door incase the buyers forgot to bring one. They will remember the kind gesture.
2. Use the newly acquired warm weather to your advantage! When the sun is shining, open all the windows for a fresh, breezy interior that is sure to warm the hearts of many! Open the blinds to allow as much natural light inside as possible.
3. Incorporate neutral spring décor into your interior. Display a centerpiece of blooming flowers, fill a vase with curvy twigs or vines and liven the rooms with springy aromas, such as rain or lilac! Read this article for more ideas.
4. Bring spring to life with outdoor landscaping! Even if most of your trees and gardens haven’t begun to show their true colors, place some annual flower pots on the front porch, trim the bushes and mow the lawn. Give the foliage as much color as possible!
5. Even though your yard may not look like an outdoor paradise right now, you can still emphasize on your yard’s projected beauty. Tell the prospective buyers what type of trees, flowers and shrubbery grow in your yard. Highlight summer fruit, fall colors and spring blooms. This will help the buyers to imagine your house year-round in a positive light.
6. Even if you consider it a cliché, spring clean! There is absolutely no excuse to not exhibit a meticulously clean exterior and interior. Dust, polish, stain, vacuum, scrub and organize! Let buyers realize how large the closets are and how shiny the countertops can appear.
7. Keep up with local events happening in the area. With spring usually arrive festivals, farmers markets and charity walks/runs. Including some of these local, upcoming activities could set your home apart from others.

For more ideas and advice on preparing for open houses, read this article about summer open houses.