How to Prepare Your Home for a Summer Sale
By Leigh Martinuzzi | Martinuzzi Property Group – eXp Australia
Summer on the Sunshine Coast is a great time to sell. Buyers are drawn to a lifestyle, so help them picture relaxed weekends, hosting friends, or firing up the barbecue in the backyard.
However, before committing to major upgrades like new decking, landscaping, or installing a pool, it’s wise to speak with us about where your investment will have the greatest impact. With extensive selling experience, we understand which features matter most to buyers and which ones may not add the same value.
To get you started, we’ve put together a step-by-step guide for anyone planning to take their property to market this summer.
1) Help buyers picture the lifestyle
In summer, buyers are buying a feeling as much as a home. They picture morning coffees outside, kids in the backyard, friends over for a BBQ, and that easy Sunshine Coast indoor to outdoor flow. Your job is to make those moments easy to imagine.
Open up the home, pull back curtains, clean windows, and make sure your outdoor area feels like a real living space, not an unused corner. Even a simple outdoor setting and a tidy table can completely change how buyers experience the property.
2) Make it feel cool and breezy
A home that feels hot or stuffy can lose a buyer before they’ve even processed the layout. Make comfort a priority. Air con should be working properly and filters clean. Ceiling fans should run smoothly, quietly, and without wobble. Flyscreens and sliding doors should open easily so breezes can move through the home.
Small touches like lighter bedding, removing heavy winter throws, and keeping rooms bright and airy can also shift the whole mood. If one side of the house cops harsh afternoon sun, even a simple blind or sheer curtain can help the home feel calmer during inspections.
3) Keep it fresh and bright
Summer styling isn’t about being fancy, it’s about feeling fresh. Humidity can bring out musty smells, damp corners, and tired bathrooms, so it’s worth getting on top of anything like mould spots, grubby grout, or poor ventilation early.
Buyers might not point it out, but they absolutely feel it. Keep benches clear, aim for clean lines, and make bathrooms and kitchens look crisp. On the Sunshine Coast, bright and airy wins almost every time.
4) Fix the small things that create doubt
Buyers can cope with “we’ll update that later.” What they don’t like is uncertainty. That’s why small repairs matter. Dripping taps, sticking doors, loose handles, wobbly gates, cracked tiles, and rust around outdoor fixtures can quietly raise questions about how the home has been maintained.
And because summer storms are common, it’s smart to check for water related red flags too. Look at gutters, downpipes, drainage, and any past signs of damp or staining, especially around bathrooms, laundries, or external walls. These are often inexpensive fixes, but they reduce hesitation in a big way.
5) Lift your curb appeal
First impressions are massive, especially online and in that first minute of an inspection. A tidy entry, clean driveway, neat edges, trimmed plants, and a welcoming front door do more than just look nice. They signal that the home is cared for. If you want to add a little extra polish, a simple pot plant or fresh mulch in garden beds can lift the whole look without spending big.
If you’re considering more significant landscaping, chat with your agent first so you’re not overcapitalising on improvements buyers won’t actually pay extra for.
6) Make the backyard feel like a feature
Outdoor living is a huge part of the Sunshine Coast lifestyle, so your backyard or outdoor area should feel usable, not just “there.” Even if the yard isn’t big, you can make it feel more valuable by creating one clear zone that buyers can instantly understand. A small outdoor setting, a bench seat, or a defined patio space can help buyers picture entertaining and relaxing.
Keep the fence line tidy, remove clutter, and make sure lawns and garden beds look neat. If you’ve got a deck or alfresco, treat it like an extra living room: clean, open, and lightly styled.
7) Plan photos and timing with your agent
Great marketing starts with great presentation, but the timing matters in summer. Light, weather, and even garden condition can change quickly on the Coast, so it helps to plan photography and open homes properly.
Your agent will organise the photographer and manage the booking, but the best results come when you collaborate on the best day and time to shoot, whether twilight photos suit your home, and how to avoid forecast storms or harsh heat.
A well timed shoot makes a big difference to your online first impression, which is where most buyers decide if they’ll inspect.
8) Keep the campaign manageable
Selling in summer can overlap with school holidays, travel plans, and family life, so it’s important to set up a routine you can actually maintain. The goal isn’t perfection, it’s consistency.
If you’re worried about juggling it all, your agent can help structure a campaign schedule that works around your life while still giving the property the best chance to shine.
What’s Next For You?
The best summer sales on the Sunshine Coast happen when the home feels like the lifestyle people want: light, clean, breezy, and ready to enjoy.
Our team at Martinuzzi Property Group can give you a clear plan on what’s worth doing, what to skip, and how to time your launch so it feels calm and well managed.
If you’re considering selling this summer, feel free to reach out anytime for a free appraisal and a chat.
👉 Get in touch with us today and and let’s give you fantastic results that you deserve.
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